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Respiration quiz #1

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  • What is the difference between external and internal respiration in terms of gas exchange and location?
    External respiration is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveolar air and the blood in the lungs, where oxygen moves from the alveoli into the blood and carbon dioxide moves from the blood into the alveoli. Internal respiration is the exchange of these gases between the blood and body tissues, where oxygen moves from the blood into the tissues and carbon dioxide moves from the tissues into the blood.
  • How do partial pressure gradients drive the movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide during respiration?
    Partial pressure gradients cause gases to move from areas of higher partial pressure to areas of lower partial pressure. In the alveoli, oxygen moves from the air (104 mmHg) into the blood (40 mmHg), and carbon dioxide moves from the blood (46 mmHg) into the alveoli (40 mmHg). In tissues, oxygen moves from the blood (100 mmHg) into the tissues (≤40 mmHg), and carbon dioxide moves from the tissues (46 mmHg) into the blood (40 mmHg).
  • Why is the amount of carbon dioxide exchanged equal to the amount of oxygen exchanged during respiration?
    The amount of carbon dioxide exchanged equals the amount of oxygen exchanged because cellular respiration in tissues uses one molecule of oxygen for every molecule of carbon dioxide produced, resulting in equal exchange during both external and internal respiration.
  • According to Henry's law, why does carbon dioxide require a smaller pressure gradient than oxygen to dissolve in blood?
    Henry's law states that the amount of gas dissolved in a liquid is proportional to its partial pressure and solubility. Carbon dioxide is about 20 times more soluble in blood than oxygen, so it requires a much smaller pressure gradient (6 mmHg) to dissolve and be transported, compared to oxygen, which needs a larger gradient (60 mmHg).
  • How are oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in the blood?
    Oxygen is primarily transported by binding to hemoglobin in red blood cells, while carbon dioxide is more soluble in blood plasma and is also carried by hemoglobin, but to a lesser extent.
  • What is the main difference between external and internal respiration in terms of location and direction of gas exchange?
    External respiration occurs in the alveoli, exchanging gases between alveolar air and blood, while internal respiration occurs in body tissues, exchanging gases between blood and tissues.
  • How do partial pressure gradients determine the movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide during respiration?
    Gases move from areas of higher partial pressure to lower partial pressure; oxygen moves from alveolar air (104 mmHg) to blood (40 mmHg), and carbon dioxide moves from blood (46 mmHg) to alveolar air (40 mmHg).
  • Why is the amount of carbon dioxide exchanged equal to the amount of oxygen exchanged during both external and internal respiration?
    Because cellular respiration uses one molecule of oxygen for every molecule of carbon dioxide produced, resulting in equal exchange of both gases.
  • According to Henry's law, why does carbon dioxide require a much smaller pressure gradient than oxygen to dissolve in blood?
    Carbon dioxide is about 20 times more soluble in blood than oxygen, so it dissolves more easily and requires only a small pressure gradient (6 mmHg) compared to oxygen's larger gradient (60 mmHg).
  • How are oxygen and carbon dioxide primarily transported in the blood?
    Oxygen is mainly transported by binding to hemoglobin in red blood cells, while carbon dioxide is more soluble in blood plasma and is also carried by hemoglobin to a lesser extent.
  • What structures create the respiratory membrane in the process of respiration?
    The respiratory membrane is created by the walls of the alveoli and the capillaries, allowing for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air in the alveoli and the blood in the capillaries.
  • What is the primary function of the respiratory membrane in respiration?
    The primary function of the respiratory membrane is to facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air in the alveoli and the blood in the capillaries, enabling external respiration.