respiratory effect?

• what does ficks law state?

  rate of diffusion is directly proportionate to:

  ( surface area x difference in concentration ) / thickness of surface

  • this means membrane thickness is inversely proportional
• surface area?

  • many alveoli
  • large network of capillaries
• membrane thickness?

  • capillaries are one cell thick
• concentration gradient?

  steep concentration gradient= increased rate of diffusion

  maintain steep gradient with ventilation (bring oxygen to alveoli so higher concentration in alveoli) and a transport system (heart and blood that carries oxygen diffused into blood so lower concentration in capillaries)