Vous êtes sur la page 1sur 18

DIFFUSION OF GASES

1
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
Objectives
■ State the Fick’s law for diffusion and
determine the limitations of gas transfer
■ Define oxygen diffusing capacity, and
describe the use of carbon monoxide to
determine oxygen diffusion capacity.
■ Name the factors that affect diffusive
transfer of gas.

2
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
CHARACTERISTICS
■ Area of blood-gas
barrier in the lung: 50
to 100 m2
■ Thickness: only 0.3 µ
in many places
■ The rate of transfer is
proportional to a
diffusion constant,
which depends on the
properties of the tissue
and the particular gas
3
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
4
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
FICK’S LAW

Figure from Respiratory Physiology, West

CO2 diffuses about 20 times faster than does O2 through


tissue sheets because it has a much higher solubility
5
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
DIFFUSION AND PERFUSION
LIMITATIONS

6
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
PAO2 = 105
PACO2 = 40
CO2 O2
PvO2 40
PvCO2 45
0 time/sec 0.75
105

PaO2

40
7
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
Picture from Respiratory Physiology, West
8
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
DIFFUSION VS PERFUSION LIMITED
1. Diffusion limited 2. Perfusion limited

■ e.g. carbon monoxide (CO) ■e.g. nitrous oxide (N2O)


■ CO strong bonds with Hb ■N2O doesn't form bond with Hb

■ increases in CO content result ■increase in N2O content results

in very minimal increase in in rapid rise in partial pressure


partial pressure ■equilibrium is reached very early
■ partial pressure difference still on
exists (when blood finishes its ■transfer of N2O is limited by the
passage through the alveoli) amount of blood available.
■ transfer of CO is limited by

the rate of diffusion, not the


amount of blood available.
9
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
A B

Mild affection of O2 Severe affection Alveoli


and CO2 exchange completely filled
105 A
al
rm

PaO2
B
No

exercise

40
0 time
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017 .75 10
Picture from Respiratory Physiology,West
11
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
Venous mix
blood

12
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© Picture
2017 from Respiratory Physiology,West
DIFFUSING CAPACITY

Vgas = DL . (P1 – P2)

DL = Diffusing capacity of the lung


■ Rate at which the gas is diffused through the
alveolar capillary membrane (ml/min)
■ Includes area, thickness and diffusion properties

13
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017

MEASUREMENT OF DIFFUSING CAPACITY


Carbon Monoxide is used because is diffusion limited


Vgas = DL . (P1 – P2)

DL = VCO Example : Carbon monoxide


P1 is partial pressure at alveolar gas
P1 – P2 P2 is partial pressure at capillary blood

■ Partial pressure of CO in capillary blood is


virtually zero (at non-lethal PACO)

DL = VCO
PACO
14
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
REACTION RATES WITH Hb
Not all the resistance for O2 and CO2 diffusion is at the level
of the blood-gas barrier

■ The uptake of O2:


■ Diffusion of O2 through
the blood-gas barrier (DM)
■ Reaction of O2 with Hb (θ x Vc)
Diffusion
By adding the two resultant resistances !
Resistance

15
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
DL = Vgas
P1 – P2

■ θ = Rate at which O2 combines with 1 ml of blood


(ml/min/mmHg of PO2)
■ Vc = Volume of capillary blood

(θ ) (Vc) = Effective “diffusing capacity” of rate of reaction


of O2 with Hb 16
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2015 Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
What conditions decreases the diffusion capacity?

■ Reduced surface area


■ Emphysema
■ Thickening of barrier
■ Edema ■ Tumors
■ Fibrosis (sarcoidosis, escleroderma) ■ Low CO, embolus
■ Decreased uptake by red cells ■ Uneven Ventilation –perfusion
■ Anemia ■ Reduced uptake by red cells
17
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017
Summary
■ Blood-gas barrier
■ Fick’s law
■ Diffusion and perfusion limitation
■ Diffusing capacity

18
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara A.C.© 2017

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi