Learning Objectives

• Describe the key gas laws governing movement of respiratory gases in the respiratory system
• Discuss the key features of each step of the diffusion pathway
• Describe Fick’s Law of Diffusion and its implications for lung design
• Discuss the role of haemoglobin in O2 transport and the factors that alter O2 transport efficiency
• Discuss the mechanisms for CO2 transport and factors effecting its efficiency
• Resources

Gas Laws

• what is Boyle’s law?
• what is Henry’s law?
• what is Dalton’s law?
• what is Fick’s law?

Oxygen Cascade

• what layers do gases pass through in the diffusion pathway?
• what factors would make the perfect lung?
• why is alveolar $\small\ce{P_{O_2}}$ so much lower than atmospheric $\small\ce{P_{CO_2}}$?
• how does the $\small\ce{P_{O_2}}$ of blood change throughout pulmonary circulation?
• how low can $\small\ce{P_{O_2}}$ get until $\small\ce{O_2}$ therapy is needed?

Hemoglobin