Question

A coronavirus patient suffers from the significant inflammation (swelling and fluid build-up) in the lung tissues. This state to the respiratory membrane will result in significant changes to the blood composition: ___ Po₂ ___Pco₂ ___pH

Answer 1

Respiratory membrane is composed of 3 layers:

• Alveolar membrane
• Endothelium of pulmonary capillaries
• Basement membrane between them.

A respiratory membrane facilitates gaseous exchange between air in the alveoli and blood in capillaries.

In a patient suffering from coronavirus, there is swelling and fluid accumulation in the lung tissues including alveoli. This decreases the surface area for gaseous exchange and will lead to following changes in blood composition:

1. pO2- it will decrease because enough O2 will not enter the capillaries from inhaled air.
2. pCO2- it will increase because proper elimination will not take place.
3. pH- it will decrease because increased levels of CO2 will make the blood acidic.Thus pH decreases.