While the majority of the symptoms experienced by people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus are mild, some develop the very serious condition of ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), which results in a rapid and widespread inflammation of the lungs. The major function of the lungs-the process of breathing-facilitates the vital exchange of gases between the environment and the body. The rate of exchange of these gases is largely governed by diffusion, which takes place in the extensive network of tiny sacs in the lungs called alveoli-hundreds of millions of them! In fact, the surface area of the alveoli in the human lungs is so large that if every alveoli were laid flat, they would cover a surface area as large as 70 to 80 m². The diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place over this large surface. Conditions like ARDS, and other diseases in the lungs, can reduce this surface area, resulting in an insufficient amount of oxygen being transferred to the blood during respiration, a condition known as hypoxemia (see the photo), which is why patients are given pure oxygen to breathe. ARDS results in considerable fluid accumulation in the lungs, which floods the alveoli and inhibits respiration. ARDS patients often have rapid breathing and are gasping for breath. This requires considerable physical exertion, and many patients quickly become exhausted. At this point, patients may be moved into an intensive care unit and placed on a mechanical ventilator to help them breathe. This is a very serious condition, and the overall prognosis for someone with ARDS is poor, with a mortality rate near 40%. For those who survive, they often experience a lower quality of life, due to irreversible damage. Consider a small section (5.20 m²) of the respiratory membrane that covers each alveolus. It is composed of a layer of squamous epithelial cells with a thickness of 1.00 pm. If the concentration of oxygen on one side of the membrane is 4.50 × 10-17 mol/μm³ and 7.80 x 10-18 mol/μm³ on the other side, what mass of oxygen (in micrograms) is transported across the membrane each second? The diffusion constant for oxygen across the membrane is 1.70 × 10-⁹ m²/s.
While the majority of the symptoms experienced by people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus are mild, some develop the very serious condition of ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), which results in a rapid and widespread inflammation of the lungs. The major function of the lungs-the process of breathing-facilitates the vital exchange of gases between the environment and the body. The rate of exchange of these gases is largely governed by diffusion, which takes place in the extensive network of tiny sacs in the lungs called alveoli-hundreds of millions of them! In fact, the surface area of the alveoli in the human lungs is so large that if every alveoli were laid flat, they would cover a surface area as large as 70 to 80 m². The diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place over this large surface. Conditions like ARDS, and other diseases in the lungs, can reduce this surface area, resulting in an insufficient amount of oxygen being transferred to the blood during respiration, a condition known as hypoxemia (see the photo), which is why patients are given pure oxygen to breathe. ARDS results in considerable fluid accumulation in the lungs, which floods the alveoli and inhibits respiration. ARDS patients often have rapid breathing and are gasping for breath. This requires considerable physical exertion, and many patients quickly become exhausted. At this point, patients may be moved into an intensive care unit and placed on a mechanical ventilator to help them breathe. This is a very serious condition, and the overall prognosis for someone with ARDS is poor, with a mortality rate near 40%. For those who survive, they often experience a lower quality of life, due to irreversible damage. Consider a small section (5.20 m²) of the respiratory membrane that covers each alveolus. It is composed of a layer of squamous epithelial cells with a thickness of 1.00 pm. If the concentration of oxygen on one side of the membrane is 4.50 × 10-17 mol/μm³ and 7.80 x 10-18 mol/μm³ on the other side, what mass of oxygen (in micrograms) is transported across the membrane each second? The diffusion constant for oxygen across the membrane is 1.70 × 10-⁹ m²/s.
Anatomy & Physiology
1st Edition
ISBN:9781938168130
Author:Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Peter DeSaix, Dean H. Kruse, Brandon Poe, Eddie Johnson, Jody E. Johnson, Oksana Korol, J. Gordon Betts, Mark Womble
Publisher:Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Peter DeSaix, Dean H. Kruse, Brandon Poe, Eddie Johnson, Jody E. Johnson, Oksana Korol, J. Gordon Betts, Mark Womble
Chapter4: The Tissue Level Of Organization
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 43CTQ: Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits the formation of blood clots...
Related questions
Question
I believe I use the diffusion law on this: (Diffusion Constant × ∆Concentration × Area) / Thickness. Then change the constant into micrometers (x10^-12). Maybe use the fact that oxygen = 16 grams/mol. Am I on the right track? Thank you for any help you can provide.
Expert Solution
This question has been solved!
Explore an expertly crafted, step-by-step solution for a thorough understanding of key concepts.
This is a popular solution!
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 6 steps with 2 images
Follow-up Questions
Read through expert solutions to related follow-up questions below.
Follow-up Question
This is what I did: to find change in concentration: 7.80e-18 - 4.50e-17 = -3.72e-17
Then applied diffusions law: (1.70e-9 x -3.72e-17 *5.20) / 1.00e-6 = -3.28848e-19
to convert to micrograms = -3.28848e-19 * 16g/mol * 1e6 mg/g = -5.26237e-12 micrograms.
Solution
by Bartleby Expert
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Recommended textbooks for you
Anatomy & Physiology
Biology
ISBN:
9781938168130
Author:
Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Peter DeSaix, Dean H. Kruse, Brandon Poe, Eddie Johnson, Jody E. Johnson, Oksana Korol, J. Gordon Betts, Mark Womble
Publisher:
OpenStax College
Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems (MindTap …
Biology
ISBN:
9781285866932
Author:
Lauralee Sherwood
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Co…
Biology
ISBN:
9781305251052
Author:
Michael Cummings
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Anatomy & Physiology
Biology
ISBN:
9781938168130
Author:
Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Peter DeSaix, Dean H. Kruse, Brandon Poe, Eddie Johnson, Jody E. Johnson, Oksana Korol, J. Gordon Betts, Mark Womble
Publisher:
OpenStax College
Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems (MindTap …
Biology
ISBN:
9781285866932
Author:
Lauralee Sherwood
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Co…
Biology
ISBN:
9781305251052
Author:
Michael Cummings
Publisher:
Cengage Learning