Respiratory Flashcards
(271 cards)
1 kPa=
7.5 mmHg
Dalton’s Law
gases in a mixture exert pressures that are independent of each other
Therefore: atmospheric pressure is the sum of the partial pressures of all of the gases in the atmosphere
Pat = PN2 + PO2 + PCO2 + PH2O + Pothers
Henry’s Law
the concentration of the gas dissolved in a liquid is directly proportional to its partial pressure
what is gas exchange in the lungs driven by?
differences in partial pressure across the alveolar membrane: inspired air has higher PO2 and a lower PCO2 than the plasma
1 mol=
22400 ml of gas
equilibrium in gas exchange in alveoli
- Gas exchange in the alveoli is so rapid that equilibrium is usually attained
- If equilibrium is not reached, usually due to V/Q ratio
V/Q ratio
amount of air that reaches your alveoli divided by the amount of blood flow in the capillaries in your lungs
passive diffusion through biological membranes
- Gases go through membranes by diffusion
- The rate of permeation is proportional to the concentration difference
- If concentrations are the same of each side of the membrane, there is no net movement (diffusion occurs at equal rates on each side)
what is P (permeation constant) dependant on?
membrane thickness, membrane area, diffusion constant and the partition coefficient
solubility of oxygen=
= 1.5% in free solution and rest is bound to haemoglobin
- Oxygen carrying capacity depends on the amount of haemoglobin
haemoglobin: structure, cooperativity and conformational states
- Tetrameric protein
- 2 types of subunits adult = alpha2beta2 (and foetal= alpha2gamma2)
- Every molecule of Hb binds 4 O molecules
- As one oxygen molecule binds, each subunit undergoes a conformational change by non-covalent inter-subunit bonds which makes it easier for other oxygen molecules to bind
- 2 conformational states: oxy and deoxy- binding and release of O2 occurs over a relatively small range of oxygen concentrations
why can foetuses take oxygen from maternal blood?
foetal haemoglobin has higher oxygen affinity than adult haemoglobin so it can take oxygen from maternal blood to the foetus
factors which affect O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
- conc. hydrogen ions
- conc. carbon dioxide
- temperature
- carbon monoxide
- 2,3 diphosphoglycerate
- oxidation of iron in haemoglobin
H+ conc. effect on O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
The Bohr effect: as [H+] increases, affinity for oxygen decreases which favours oxygen release in metabolising tissue
CO2 conc. effect on O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
The Haldane effect- as [CO2] increases, the affinity for oxygen decreases as CO2 reacts with amino groups
temperature effect on O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
as temperature increases, affinity for O2 decreases (eg. O2 is released when temperature rises ie. In muscle)
2,3 diphosphoglycerate effect on O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
lowers O2 affinity
carbon monoxide effect on O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
binds to Hb with an affinity 200 times greater than oxygen- also affects affinity of remaining sites as affinity for oxygen is increases so oxygen is released poorly in metabolising tissue
Oxidation of iron in haemoglobin effect on O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
- Oxidation of iron in haemoglobin to Fe3+ converts it to methemoglobin which does not bind oxygen- methemoglobin reductase reduces this back to Fe2+
carbon dioxide carriage in blood
Co2 is far more soluble than oxygen in blood but only a small proportion of CO2 is directly dissolved. Three mechanisms contribute to bulk of transport: bicarbonate- mediated transport, carbamino-mediated transport and dissolution.
60% of carbon dioxide transport is mediated by:
HCO3 through an equilibrium between plasma Co2 and carbonic acid (H2CO3), which is important in pH regulation.
carbonic anhydrase within the red blood cells quickly converts the carbon dioxide and water into carbonic acid, which immediately dissociates into bicarb ions and H+ ions. this reaction allows for the continued uptake of carbon dioxide into the blood down its concentration gradient.
30% of carbon dioxide transport is carried out by:
carbamino groups
The N-terminus of proteins contains a free NH2 group which can combine with CO+2 to produce a carbamino group. This reaction is readily reversible releasing CO2¬ if the pCO2 falls. Most carbamino groups are found on the peptide chains haemoglobin.
does deoxyhaemoglobin or oxyhaemoglobin have higher capacity for forming carbamino groups?
Deoxygenated haemoglobin has a higher capacity for forming carbamino groups than oxygenated haemoglobin.
10% of carbon dioxide transport
is transported dissolved in blood. The dissolved amount proportional as always to the partial pressure of the solution.