Comments on: Respiratory problems are treated with devices that deliver air with a higher partial pressure O2. Why? http://respiratory-report.com/respiratory-problems/respiratory-problems-are-treated-with-devices-that-deliver-air-with-a-higher-partial-pressure-o2-why Respiratory Report - All About Respiratory Problems Sat, 03 Sep 2011 05:01:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 By: Coya54 http://respiratory-report.com/respiratory-problems/respiratory-problems-are-treated-with-devices-that-deliver-air-with-a-higher-partial-pressure-o2-why/comment-page-1#comment-12 Coya54 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:53:31 +0000 http://respiratory-report.com/respiratory-problems/respiratory-problems-are-treated-with-devices-that-deliver-air-with-a-higher-partial-pressure-o2-why#comment-12 The body's respiratory system includes the LUNGS, as i'm sure you know. In the lungs, there are many tiny sacs called ALVEOLI. Surrounding these are BLOOD CAPILLARIES When you inhale, air fills the alveoli, and OXYGEN FRON THE AIR diffuses through the ALVEOLI, and through the CAPILLARY WALLS, into the BLOODSTREAM Red blood cells contain a compound called HAEMOGLOBIN that BONDS to the OXYGEN, and it is transported around the body in the bloodstream. [note that PERCENTAGE SATURATION refers to the amount of haemoblobin that has bonded to as many oxygen molecules as possible] At HIGH oxygen partial pressures (i.e. in the lung normally), haemoglobin is VERY EFFICIENT at taking up oxygen, and has a HIGH PERCENTAGE SATURATION However, if the oxygen partial pressure is increased, the percentage saturation of haemoglobin becomes EVEN HIGHER So to outline everything - Increasing oxygen partial pressure increases PERCENTAGE SATURATION of haemoglpbin in the blood - Increasing percentage saturation increases oxygen being transported in the blood - This increases oxygen being delivered to RESPIRING TISSUE in the body (e.g. muscle) - Finally, this acts to overcome respiratory problems (e.g. breathing problems) that would otherwise REDUCE oxygen being transported to, or used by respiring tissue =] ...x

The body’s respiratory system includes the LUNGS, as i’m sure you know.

In the lungs, there are many tiny sacs called ALVEOLI. Surrounding these are BLOOD CAPILLARIES

When you inhale, air fills the alveoli, and OXYGEN FRON THE AIR diffuses through the ALVEOLI, and through the CAPILLARY WALLS, into the BLOODSTREAM

Red blood cells contain a compound called HAEMOGLOBIN that BONDS to the OXYGEN, and it is transported around the body in the bloodstream.

[note that PERCENTAGE SATURATION refers to the amount of haemoblobin that has bonded to as many oxygen molecules as possible]

At HIGH oxygen partial pressures (i.e. in the lung normally), haemoglobin is VERY EFFICIENT at taking up oxygen, and has a HIGH PERCENTAGE SATURATION

However, if the oxygen partial pressure is increased, the percentage saturation of haemoglobin becomes EVEN HIGHER

So to outline everything

- Increasing oxygen partial pressure increases PERCENTAGE SATURATION of haemoglpbin in the blood

- Increasing percentage saturation increases oxygen being transported in the blood

- This increases oxygen being delivered to RESPIRING TISSUE in the body (e.g. muscle)

- Finally, this acts to overcome respiratory problems (e.g. breathing problems) that would otherwise REDUCE oxygen being transported to, or used by respiring tissue =]

…x

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