Principles of Gas Exchange Diffusionof Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Through The Respiratory Membrane

Principles of Gas Exchange; Diffusionof

Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Through the

Respiratory Membrane
Dr. M.Hassan
• After the alveoli are ventilated with fresh air, the next step in
respiration is diffusion of oxygen (O2) from the alveoli into the
pulmonary blood and diffusion of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the
opposite direction.
PRESSURE DIFFERENCE CAUSES NET DIFFUSION OF GASES
THROUGH FLUIDS

• when the partial pressure of a gas is greater in one area than in

another area, there will be net diffusion from the high pressure area
toward the low-pressure area. For instance, returning to , one can
readily see that the molecules in the area of high pressure, because of
their greater number, have a greater chance of moving randomly into
the area of low pressure than do molecules attempting to go in the
other direction.
• However, some molecules do bounce randomly from the area of low
pressure toward the area of high pressure.
Quantifying the Net Rate of Diffusion in Fluids
• In addition to the pressure difference and they are several other

factors affect the rate of gas diffusion in a fluid:
I. the solubility of the gas in the fluid,
II. the cross-sectional area of the fluid,
III. the distance through which the gas must diffuse,
IV. the molecular weight of the gas,
V. The temperature of the fluid.
compositions of alveolar air and atmospheric air are
different and there are several reasons for the difference
 First, alveolar air is only partially replaced by atmospheric air with
each breath.
 Second, O2 is constantly being absorbed into the pulmonary blood
from the alveolar air.
 Third, CO2 is constantly diffusing from the pulmonary blood into the
alveoli.
 fourth, dry atmospheric air that enters the respiratory passages is
humidified even before it reaches the alveoli.
alveolar air is slowly renewed by atmospheric air
Importance of the Slow Replacement of Alveolar Air.
• The slow replacement of alveolar air is of particular importance in

preventing sudden changes in gas concentrations in the blood. This
makes the respiratory control mechanism much more stable than it
would be otherwise, and it helps prevent excessive increases and
decreases in tissue oxygenation, tissue CO2 concentration, and tissue
pH when respiration is temporarily interrupted.
Oxygen Concentration And Partial Pressure In The
Alveoli
• Oxygen is continually being absorbed from the alveoli into the blood
of the lungs, and new O2 is continually being breathed into the alveoli
from the atmosphere. The more rapidly O2 is absorbed, the lower its
concentration in the alveoli becomes; conversely, the more rapidly
new O2 is breathed into the alveoli from the atmosphere, the higher
its concentration becomes.
• Therefore, O2 concentration in the alveoli, as well as its partial
pressure, is controlled by:
I. the rate of absorption of O2 into the blood
II. the rate of entry of new O2 into the lungs by the ventilatory
process
Expired Air Is a Combination of Dead Space Air and
Alveolar Air
The overall composition of expired air is determined by:

i. the amount of the expired air that is dead space air and
ii. the amount that is alveolar air
Diffusion Of Gases Through The Respiratory Membrane
• the respiratory unit (also called “respiratory lobule”), which is

composed of a respiratory bronchiole, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs,
and alveoli.
• There are about 300 million alveoli in the two lungs, and each
alveolus has an average diameter of about 0.2 millimeter.
Respiratory membrane composed different
layer:
1. A layer of fluid containing surfactant that lines the alveolus and
reduces the surface tension of the alveolar fluid
2. The alveolar epithelium, which is composed of thin epithelial cells
3. An epithelial basement membrane
4. A thin interstitial space between the alveolar epithelium and the
capillary membrane
5. capillary basement membrane that in many places fuses with the
alveolar epithelial basement membrane
6. The capillary endothelial membrane
• The average diameter of the pulmonary capillaries is only about 5
micrometers, which means that red blood cells must squeeze through
them.
• the red blood cell membrane usually touches the capillary wall, so O2
and CO2 need not pass through significant amounts of plasma as they
diffuse between the alveolus and the red blood cell. This, too,
increases the rapidity of diffusion
factors that determine how rapidly a gas will
pass through the membrane are:
i. the thickness of the membrane
ii. the surface area of the membrane
iii. the diffusion coefficient of the gas in the substance of the
membrane
iv. the partial pressure difference of the gas between the two sides of
the membrane
DIFFUSING CAPACITY OF THE RESPIRATORY MEMBRANE
• The ability of the respiratory membrane to exchange a gas between

the alveoli and the pulmonary blood is expressed in quantitative
terms by the respiratory membrane’s diffusing capacity, which is
defined as the volume of a gas that will diffuse through the
membrane each minute for a partial pressure difference of 1 mm Hg.
Diffusing Capacity for Oxygen
• In the average young man, the diffusing capacity for O2 under

resting conditions averages 21 ml/min/mm Hg.
Diffusing Capacity for carbon dioxide
• Diffusing capacity for CO2 under resting conditions of about 400 to

450 ml/min/mm Hg and during exercise of about 1200 to 1300
ml/min/mm Hg

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Principles of Gas Exchange; Diffusionof

Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Through the

• when the partial pressure of a gas is greater in one area than in

• In addition to the pressure difference and they are several other

• The slow replacement of alveolar air is of particular importance in

The overall composition of expired air is determined by:

• the respiratory unit (also called “respiratory lobule”), which is

• The ability of the respiratory membrane to exchange a gas between

• In the average young man, the diffusing capacity for O2 under

• Diffusing capacity for CO2 under resting conditions of about 400 to

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