Gas Exchange Respiratory System

futurenurseyes · Jul 26, 2014

7.Gas exchange includes a high concentration of gas (O2, CO2) moving to a low concentration.

Explain the situations listed below.

a. Alveolar air has a high concentration of O2 and a low concentration of CO2 . What

happens?

b. Tissue capillaries have a high concentration of O2 and a low concentration of CO2.

What happens?

----->> I know that gas exchange occurs through diffusion. I'm confused on how to answer these questions PLEASE HELP!!

Anna S, RN · Jul 26, 2014

"...exchange of gases occur by diffusion. High to low and vice versa...."

There's your answer.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2014

We are happy to help but we need to know what you think first. What has your research revealed to you?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2014

duplicate threads merged as per the Terms of Service

futurenurseyes · Jul 26, 2014

Fresh Air enters the lungs. It's high in oxygen and carbon dioxide is cycled from the blood to the lungs back into the atmosphere. Therefore, there's a high concentration of oxygen and a low concentration of carbon dioxide.

Tissue capillaries need oxygen. Oxygen is transported from the lungs into the blood and then dispersed into tissue cells. Carbon dioxide is carried away from tissue cells into the lungs to be expelled back into the atmosphere. Therefore, there's a high concentration of oxygen and a low concentration of carbon dioxide.

Did I get it right? Were these helpful essays explaining the gas exchange process??

futurenurseyes · Jul 27, 2014

Someone please respond, it's very important that I have the proper concepts here. Experienced nurses/nursing students please give me your input. Thank you!

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2014

7.Gas exchange includes a high concentration of gas (O2, CO2) moving to a low concentration.
Explain the situations listed below.
a. Alveolar air has a high concentration of O2 and a low concentration of CO2 . What
 happens?
b. Tissue capillaries have a high concentration of O2 and a low concentration of CO2.
What happens?
----->> I know that gas exchange occurs through diffusion. I'm confused on how to answer these questions PLEASE HELP!!

I have taken your original and erased the parts that don't matter when you answer those questions.

Fresh Air enters the lungs. It's high in oxygen.
a. Alveolar air has a high concentration of O2 and a low concentration of CO2 . What
 happens?
Oxygen is transported from the lungs into the blood.

That's correct. The oxygen in the alveoli diffuses from an area of higher concentration (the inspired air) to the area of lower concentration (the blood). That's how oxygen gets into the blood. Leave the rest of the body out of this question for the moment, because this part is only about what goes on at the alveolar/capillary junction (where the capillaries meet the alveolar air through a membrane).

Fresh Air enters the lungs. There's a low concentration of carbon dioxide in that air.

At this point, the CO2 also diffuses from an area of higher concentration (the blood) to the area of lower concentration too (the alveolus). See? That's how CO2 leaves the body.

Now, let's move on to what goes on at the tissue capillaries.

b. Tissue capillaries have a high concentration of O2 and a low concentration of CO2.
What happens?

Same thing: oxygen in the blood diffuses from an area of higher concentration (the blood) to an area of lower concentration (the tissues). And at the same time, CO2 also diffuses from an area of higher concentration (tissues) to an area of lower concentration (the blood).

Therefore, there's a high concentration of oxygen and a low concentration of carbon dioxide.

I have absolutely no idea why this is a "therefore." This sentence makes no sense at all.