Question

What does arterial pressure have to do with the workings of our lungs?

Answer 1

The arterial pressure is the pressure of the blood implied in the arteries and mean arterial pressure lies between 70 to 100 mmHg. The arterial pressure is connected to the working and functioning of lungs because when the blood pressure in the artery becomes very high, it causes the arteries of the lungs to narrow and hence the flow of blood tends to reduce through lungs. As the flow of the blood reduces as it flows through the lungs, it leads to reduction of the oxygen level in the blood. Hence when the arterial pressure is high, it reduces the oxygen level in blood due to the reduction in blood flow to lungs and when it is very low, it tends to widen the lung arteries increasing the blood oxygen level.