LSM 3212

Respiratory System (II):

Gas Exchange Gas Transport

Control of Breathing

Basis of Gas Laws

Boyles Law Daltons Law Henrys Law
Implication in Respiratory Physiology

Recall: Breathing
P 1/V (Boyles Law)

What is Partial Pressure?

The pressure exerted by each type of gas, and it is directly proportional to its % in a total air mixture Ptotal = PN2 + PO2 + PCO2+ PN (Daltons Law)

Partial Pressures of Atmospheric Gases (N2 80%; O2 20%) Sea Level vs. Underwater

Partial Pressures of Gases

in the Alveoli

Expired air?

Effects of Height

The questions to ask before climbing Mt. Everest (8,800 m): Up there What happens to the atmospheric (barometric) pressure? What is % of O2 in the atmospheric air? What is the inspired PO2? What is the alveolar PO2? Alveolar Gas Equation: PAO2 = PIO2 - PACO2/R = FIO2 (PB - 47) - 1.2(PaCO2)
A: alveolar; I: Inspired F: fraction (%); B: barometric H2O pressure: 47mmHg at 37C R: respiratory gas exchange ratio (VCO2/VO2)

Partial Pressures of Gases

in the Blood
Henrys Law:
relates gas solubility to gas partial pressure & temperature
CO2 = very soluble O2 = 1/20 as soluble as CO2 N2 = virtually insoluble, except

[Gas] dissolved in a fluid depends directly on its partial pressure in a gas mixture

PO2 = 100 mmHg

PO2 = 40 mmHg

Which container will have more O2 in solution?

O2 Transport
in the Blood
Carried in two ways: dissolved in plasma ~1.5% bound to hemoglobin (Hb) ~98.5% depends on the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) What would happen if there is no Hb in the blood?

RBCs
Hb

No Hb!

Antarctic Icefish

O2-Hb Saturation Curve

- depends on blood PO2 - PO2> 60mmHg (plateau) - PO2< 40mmHg (steep region), O2 release significantly at tissue level - what is PO2 at tissue level during exercise?

What is the physiological significance of plateau and steep region, respectively?

Effects of PCO2 (pH) & Temperature on O2-Hb Saturation Curve

50

50

Bohr effect P50

P50

In an exercising muscle, curve shifts to left or right? why?

Effect of 2,3-DPG on O2-Hb Curve

What is DPG? - 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, by-product
of RBC glycolysis - bind with Hb reversibly, thus reduce Hbs affinity for O2 -like pH & temperature do on the curve

What is the physiological role of 2,3-DPG?

Pigment Types
Hb vs. Myoglobin where is myoglobin? structure? O2 affinity? O2-poor environment in fetus:
Mt. Everest in utero low PaO2 (~30 mmHg)
HbF HbA Myoglobin

physiological adaptation of fetus? compared to:

adults high altitude mammals

CO2 Transport in the Blood

dissolved in plasma bound to Hb (HbCO2) as bicarbonate (HCO3-)
carbonic anhydrase (in RBCs)

~10% ~30% ~60%

CO2 + H2O H2CO3 HCO3- + H+

carbonic acid bicarbonate

CO2 transport in the blood

At tissues: CO2 load/O2 unload
10%

60%

30%

How does CO2 loading facilitate O2 unloading?

CO2 transport in the blood

At lungs: O2 load/CO2 unload
-

Partial pressure gradients drive the gas movement. How O2 loading facilitates CO2 unloading?

Steps:
1. O2 binds to Hb to liberate H+ 2. H+ binds with HCO3- to form H2CO3 3. H2CO3 dissociates to H2O and CO2 4. CO2 diffuses to alveoli

Respiratory Acid-Base Balance

pH = - log [H+]
Ventilation rate is altered to keep neutral pH (7.4), how? CO2 + H2O H2CO3 HCO3- + H+ When pH drops (H+), the reaction favors the production of CO2, which is exhaled out of the lungs.

Hypo- vs. Hyperventilation

Hypoventilation
Accumulation of CO2 PCO2 pH (H+ ) Respiratory acidosis
CO2 + H2O H2CO3 HCO3- + H+

Hyperventilation
Excessive loss of CO2 PCO2 pH (H+ ) Respiratory alkalosis

Hyperventilation Syndrome
Causes: anxiety, stress, hypoxia Symptoms: numbness & tingling of hands, muscle spasms, dizziness.
Home Tx: breathing into a paper bag, why?

A drop of CO2 level & PCO2 A leftward shift of O2-Hb curve due to alkalosis Many deaths occurred in underwater swimmers who hyperventilated excess before breath-hold diving, why?

Control of Breathing
Medulla - generate rhythmic cycle of breathing Pons - play the role of fine tuning influences over the medulla center
Pons
Respiratory Center Medulla Brain Stem

Modifying Respiration

Chemoreceptor Control
1.

medulla

2. Peripheral Chemoreceptors
- Carotid body & Aortic bodies - O2 & H+ sensor

Chemical Control
of Breathing
PCO2
main respiratory regulator mainly affect on central chemoreceptors CO2 can pass blood-brain barrier H+ cannot pass the barrier

[H+]
monitored by carotid & aortic bodies

PO2
monitored by carotid & aortic bodies arterial PO2< 60 mmHg to stimulate peripheral chemoreceptors

Effect of arterial PCO2 on ventilation

Effect of arterial non-CO2-H+ on ventilation

Effect of arterial PO2 on ventilation

Sperm Whales:
champion divers of the sea

Dive 2000m underwater 1hr to hunt for delicious giant squids! Problems encountered underwater: huge pressure hypoxia

Lung collapse - prevent lung rupture - lack of nitrogen narcosis & decompression sickness Enhanced O2 stored in blood & muscles
Scientific American, August 21 (2006)

SCUBA diving
Things to know:
What happens to the pressure below sea level? What happens to the divers lung volume? What kind of air he is breathing in from the tank? At what pressure is he breathing at? What might happen if he stays deeper than 30m with extended period of time? What happens on ascent? more

Ama diver

Breath-hold diving

What is the technique to allow one to stay longer underwater during breath-hold diving? What are the levels of alveolar O2 & CO2 after hyperventilation and right after descent, respectively? What is the risk of excessive hyperventilation? How to avoid?