Partial Pressures

Question 1

What is partial pressure measured in?

Answer 1

Kilopascals (kPa) or millimetres of mercury (mmHg)

E.g.: (0.133kPa = 1mmHg)

Question 2

What is PaPO2?

Answer 2

Partial pressure of oxygen dissolved in plasma of arterial blood

Question 3

What is PO2/PCO2?

Answer 3

Partial pressure of oxygen / carbon dioxide in the air

Question 4

What is PvCO2?

Answer 4

Partial pressure of carbon dioxide dissolved in plasma of venous blood

Question 5

What is partial pressure?

Answer 5

The concentration of each gas in the body

Question 6

How does partial pressure of gas affect gas solubility?

Answer 6

The greater the partial pressure the faster it will dissolve into the liquid phase

Question 7

How does partial pressure of gas in liquid phase affect gas solubility?

Answer 7

If the partial pressure of a gas in the liquid phase becomes higher than its partial pressure in the gas phase, some of the dissolved gas will re-enter the gas phase