The process of pulmonary diffusion is a vital part of respiration and refers to the movement of gases between the alveoli and blood. This exchange is necessary in order to ensure that oxygenated blood is delivered to the body’s cells and that carbon dioxide is removed.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at the process of pulmonary diffusion and how it works. We provided helpful practice questions on this topic as well.
Get access to 25+ premium quizzes, mini-courses, and downloadable cheat sheets for FREE.
What is Pulmonary Diffusion?
Pulmonary diffusion is the process of how gases are transported between the alveoli and blood. This is known as gas exchange and is a requirement for survival.
When you take a breath in, air enters the lungs and is concentrated with approximately 21% of oxygen. The oxygen molecules reach the alveoli, which are small air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange takes place.
At the same time, carbon dioxide molecules that are produced by the cells travel from the blood to the alveoli.
These gases diffuse across the alveolar-capillary membrane until the concentrations of both gases are equal on each side. This concentration gradient is what drives the diffusion process.
Diffusion of Pulmonary Gases Practice Questions:
1. What is the barometric pressure on
760 mmHg
2. What will happen to barometric pressure when altitude increases?
It decreases.
3. What will happen to the barometric pressure when altitude decreases?
It increases.
4. What causes gas to move in and out of the lungs?
Pressure gradients.
5. What causes an individual gas to cross the alveolar-capillary membrane?
Diffusion gradients.
6. What is Dalton’s law?
The law of partial pressure which is the total pressure is equal to the sum of the partial pressure of each separate gas.
7. What gases are in the atmosphere?
Nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and trace gases.
8. How do you calculate the partial pressure for each gas?
Barometric pressure X the percentage of the gas in the atmosphere.
9. What law states that the rate of gas transfer across a sheet of tissue is directly proportional to the surface area of the tissue, to the diffusion constants, and to the difference in partial pressure of the gas between the two sides of the tissue, and is inversely proportional to the thickness of the tissue?
Fick’s Law
10. What law states that the rate of diffusion of gas through a liquid is directly proportional to the solubility coefficient of the gas and indirectly proportional to the square root of the gram-molecular weight of the gas?
Graham’s Law
11. What law states that the amount of a gas that dissolves in a liquid at a given temp is proportional to the partial pressure of the gas?
Henry’s Law
12. What term defines that the transfer of a gas across the alveolar wall is a function of the amount of blood that flows past the alveoli?
Perfusion Limited
13. What term defines that the movement of gas across the alveolar wall is a function of the integrity of the alveolar-capillary membrane itself?
Diffusion Limited
14. Why is the PaO2 different than the atmospheric O2?
Because when
15. What law uses this equation (Ptotal = P1+P2+P3)?
Dalton’s Law
16. What law uses this equation (PAO2 = [Pb – PH2O] X FiO2 – PaCO2 X (1.25))?
Ideal Alveolar Gas Equation
17. What law uses this equation (V gas = [AD (P1 – P2)]/T)?
Fick’s Law
18. What is referred to as partial pressure?
PiO2
19. The movement of gas from an area of high pressure (high concentration) to an area of low pressure (low concentration)?
Pressure gradients
20. What is the movement of individual gas molecules from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure?
Gas diffusion
The Egan's book is known as the "Bible of Respiratory" and is highly recommended.
As an affiliate, we receive compensation if you purchase through this link.
21. At what body temperature is the gas in the alveoli fully saturated?
37°
22. Why is the partial pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere higher than the partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli?
Because alveolar oxygen must mix or compete with alveolar CO2 pressure and alveolar water vapor pressure which are not as high in the atmosphere.
23. How much
47 mmHg
24. What is the ideal alveolar gas equation?
PAO2 = [PB – PH2O] FIO2 – PaCO2(1.25)
25. How do you get the respiratory exchange ratio?
VCO2/VO2 = rate
VCO2 ml/min of CO2 removal
VO2 ml/ min of O2 uptake
26. What is the normal respiratory exchange ratio?
200/250 = 0.8
27. What are the layers that CO2 and O2 must go through?
Alveolar fluid, alveolar epithelium, basal alveolar membrane, interstitial space,
basal capillary membrane, capillary epithelium, and RBC.
28. How to calculate the difference between alveolar and arterial oxygen gradients?
PAO2 – PaO2
29. Why calculate the difference between the alveoli and the blood?
Because it helps identify problems associated with the A-C capillary membrane.
30. What are the normal gradients?
5-15 mmHg
32. What law is the amount of gas that diffuses from one point to another by exchange?
Fick’s law
33. What cells are the most important and needs to get enough oxygen and complex sugars?
Brain cells and myocardial cells.
34. How many seconds do red blood cells get exposed at rest?
0.75
35. What is the significance of Henry’s and Graham’s Laws as it relates to O2-CO2 exchange?
CO2 diffuses about 20x faster than O2.
36. Which law says that CO2 is 24x more soluble than oxygen?
Henry’s law
37. Which law says that oxygen is lighter thereby it diffuses 1.7x faster than CO2?
Graham’s law
38. What variables change in the alveolar air equation in Denver altitude 5500 ft?
Barometric pressure.
39. Which is an application of Boyles law in these examples?
Nitrogen washout, a boiling pot, oxygen cylinder is heated, normal breathing aka body, plethysmograph, and normal breathing.
40. What is the atmospheric gas typically has the greatest partial pressure in the alveolus breathing room air?
Nitrogen
41. What the FiO2 at 30,000 ft?
21%
42. What does the ‘a’ in PaO2 stand for?
a = arterial
43. What does the ‘A’ in PAO2 stand for?
A= alveolus
44. Which gas has a greater pressure gradient between the alveolus and pulmonary capillary blood flow?
Oxygen has a greater gradient than CO2.
45. What is the Fick’s law equation?
46. What is normal gas equilibrium met in the capillary transit time?
0.25
47. Which has an easier access for both carbon dioxide and oxygen to go through the alveolar-capillary membrane?
CO2
48. What is perfusion-limited referring to?
It is referring to how much blood flow is going
49. What is normal alveolar water vapor pressure?
47 mmHg
50. What is the normal alveolar CO2 pressure?
40 mmHg
51. What is the normal atmospheric pressure?
760 mmHg
52. What is the solubility coefficient of oxygen at 37 C and 760 mmHg?
0.0244 mL/mm Hg/mL H2O
53. What is the solubility coefficient of carbon dioxide at 37 C and 760 mmHg?
0.592 mL/mm Hg/mL H2O
54. What is the normal transit time for blood through the alveolar-capillary system?
0.75 seconds
55. What is diffusion?
The movement of gases across the alveolar capillary membrane.
56. What are the gases in the earth’s atmosphere?
Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and other miscellaneous gases.
57. What is a pressure gradient?
Movement of gas from a high pressure to a low pressure.
58. What is gas diffusion?
Movement of individual gas molecules from high pressure to low pressure.
59. What is a diffusion gradient?
Individual gas partial pressure differences.
60. What is kinetic energy?
The driving force responsible for diffusion.
61. What is the diffusion of O2 and CO2?
We breathe in oxygen to the alveoli, it diffuses into capillary membranes to blood/CO2 come from blood to the lungs, then to the atmosphere.
62. What is the thickness of lungs that must diffuse through alveolar-capillary membrane?
0.36-2.5mm
63. What does diffusion do if alveolar oxygen pressure decreases?
It decreases.
64. What is Henry’s law?
Carbon dioxide is more soluble than oxygen.
65. What is the meaning of perfusion-limited?
Transfer of gas across the alveolar wall, a function of blood that passes the alveoli.
66. What is the meaning of diffusion-limited?
The movement of gas across the alveolar wall is a function of the integrity of the alveolar-capillary membrane itself.
67. What test is done to measure diffusion capacity?
DLCL
68. What are the pulmonary disorders that increase the alveolar-capillary thickness?
Pulmonary edema, pneumonia, interstitial lung diseases, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and RDS in Newborn Infants.
69. How does oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse across the alveolar-capillary membrane?
Oxygen molecules diffuse across the alveolar-capillary membrane into the blood while the carbon dioxide molecules diffuse out of the capillary blood and into the alveoli. This will continue until equilibrium is reached.
70. What are pressure gradients?
The movement of gas from an area of high pressure (high concentration) to an area of low pressure (low concentration).
71. What is gas diffusion?
The Process of respiration is the movement of gases across the alveolar capillary membrane (AC – membrane).
72. What are diffusion gradients?
It is an individual gas partial pressure difference. They help move gas across the alveolar-capillary (AC) membrane.
73. What are all the gases in the earth’s atmosphere?
Nitrogen (NO2), oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide and other trace gases (e.g., argon).
74. Depending on the surrounding temperature and pressure, water can exist as what?
Liquid, gas, or solid.
75. What do you call the water in the gaseous form?
Water vapor or molecular water.
76. What is the absolute humidity of the alveolar gas?
44 mg/L
77. What is the process of diffusion?
Passive movement of gas molecules from an area of high partial pressure to an area of low partial pressure until both areas are equal and pressure.
78. How long does it take the blood move through the alveolar-capillary membrane under normal resting conditions?
0.75 second
79. In the presence of certain pulmonary diseases, the time available to achieve oxygen equilibrium in the alveolar-capillary system may not be adequate. Such diseases include what?
Pulmonary edema, pneumonia (alveolar consolidation), and interstitial lung diseases.
80. When can oxygen toxicity develop?
Within 24 hours in response to high partial pressures of inspired oxygen (PO2), and with longer exposure times to inspired oxygen concentrations (FIO2) above 0.50.
Get access to 25+ premium quizzes, mini-courses, and downloadable cheat sheets for FREE.
81. What is Henry’s law?
The amount of a gas that dissolves in a liquid at a given temperature is
82. What is the rate of diffusion of a gas to a liquid in Graham’s law?
Directly proportional to the solubility coefficient of the gas. And indirectly proportional to the square root of the gram-molecular weight (GMW of the gas.
83. What is emphysema?
Breaks down the walls of adjacent alveoli and pulmonary capillaries, the alveoli merge together into a large air sac which is called bullae. Thus, destroying both the alveoli and pulmonary capillaries and decreasing surface area.
84. What is the meaning of perfusion-limited?
The transfer of gas across the alveolar wall is a function of the amount of blood that flows past alveoli.
85. What is the meaning of diffusion-limited?
The movement of a gas across the alveolar wall is a function of the integrity of the alveolar-capillary membrane itself.
86. What is the partial pressure of oxygen assuming a normal barometric pressure of 760 mmHg, if the percentage of oxygen is 0.4?
304 mmHg
87. How many feet below sea level must an individual descend to exert a total pressure on the body of 3 atmospheres (2280 mmHg)?
66 feet
88. Which of the following gas laws states that in a mixture of gases the total pressure is equal to the sum of the partial pressure of each gas?
Dalton’s law
89. What is the normal percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere at sea level?
0.03 %
90. What is the alveolar water vapor pressure at sea level?
47 torr
91. What is the patient’s alveolar oxygen tension if he is receiving
344 torr
92. What is the normal transit time for blood within the alveolar-capillary system?
0.75 second
93. What law states that the rate of gas diffusion is inversely proportional to the weight of the gas?
Graham’s law
94. What is gas diffusion according to Fick’s law?
Directly proportional to the difference in partial pressure of the gas between the two sides.
95. What is kinetic energy?
It is driving force responsible for diffusion.
FAQ
What is Pulmonary Diffusion Capacity?
Pulmonary diffusion capacity is defined as the amount of gas that is transferred from the alveoli in the lungs to capillary blood during gas exchange.
Once air from the lungs crosses the alveolar-capillary membrane, it is picked up by red blood cells and transported to the tissues of the body.
Which of These Factors is Most Critical in Determining the Rate of Pulmonary Diffusion?
The gas partial pressure difference is the most important factor in determining the rate of pulmonary diffusion. This is also known as the pressure gradient.
Partial pressure is defined as the pressure that each gas would exert if it were present alone. In other words, it is a measure of how much a given gas contributes to the total pressure.
The partial pressure gradient is what drives the diffusion process and is determined by subtracting the partial pressure of a gas on one side from the partial pressure of the gas on the other side.
Why Does Oxygen Diffusion from the Alveolus to the Pulmonary Capillary Occur?
Oxygen diffusion from the alveoli to the pulmonary capillary occurs because the alveolar PO2 is greater than the capillary PO2.
The alveolar PO2 is the partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli and the capillary PO2 is the partial pressure of oxygen in the pulmonary capillaries.
When these two values are subtracted, it results in a positive number and this gradient is what drives the diffusion of oxygen from the alveoli to the blood.
What is the Difference Between Diffusion and Perfusion?
Diffusion is the process of how gases are transported across a membrane, while perfusion is the process of how blood is transported through the body.
Both diffusion and perfusion are necessary for gas exchange to take place. Pulmonary diffusion refers to the diffusion of gases between the alveoli and blood, while pulmonary perfusion refers to the movement of blood through the pulmonary arteries and veins.
What is Diffusion Capacity in a Pulmonary Function Test?
Diffusion capacity (DLCO) is a measure of how well the lungs are able to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. This test is used to diagnose lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The test involves breathing in a mixture of gases and measuring how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood before and after. The difference between the two values is the diffusing capacity.
Final Thoughts
Pulmonary diffusion is the process of how gases are transported from the alveoli, through the alveolar-capillary membrane, and into the pulmonary capillaries.
This is a vital process that is necessary for survival as it enables gas exchange to take place. The most important factor in determining the rate of diffusion is the partial pressure gradient.
If you want to learn more about this topic, check out our full guide on oxygenation vs. ventilation. Thanks for reading!
Written by:
John Landry, BS, RRT
John Landry is a registered respiratory therapist from Memphis, TN, and has a bachelor's degree in kinesiology. He enjoys using evidence-based research to help others breathe easier and live a healthier life.
References
- Egan’s Fundamentals of Respiratory Care. 12th ed., Mosby, 2020.
- Cardiopulmonary Anatomy & Physiology: Essentials of Respiratory Care. Cengage Learning, 2019.
- Rrt, Des Terry Jardins MEd, and Burton George Md Facp Fccp Faarc. Clinical Manifestations and Assessment of Respiratory Disease. 8th ed., Mosby, 2019.
- “PULMONARY DIFFUSING CAPACITY DURING REST AND EXERCISE. A STUDY OF NORMAL PERSONS AND PERSONS WITH ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT, PREGNANCY, AND PULMONARY DISEASE*.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, Oct. 1962, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC291115.
- “Change in Pulmonary Diffusion Capacity in a General Population Sample over 9 Years.” PubMed Central (PMC), 2 Oct. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5013260.
- “Alterations in Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity and Pulmonary Capillary Blood Volume with Negative Pressure Breathing.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, Oct. 1965, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC292646.