Which of the following does not affect the efficiency of pulmonary gas exchange?

a. The surface area of the respiratory membrane

b. The degree of match of ventilation to perfusion

c. The percent saturation of hemoglobin

d. The thickness of the respiratory membrane

Video transcript

Hi, everyone. Let's take a look at this question together. Why does inflammation in the respiratory membrane negatively impact gas exchange efficiency? Is it answer choice. A it increases surface area. Answer choice B it decreases ventilation rate. Answer choice C it thickens the respiratory membrane or answer choice D it improves tidal volume. Let's work this problem out together to try to figure out how inflammation in the respiratory membrane can negatively impact gas exchange efficiency. So in order to solve this question, we have to recall what we have learned about what occurs during inflammation and how that inflammation of the respiratory membrane can impact gas exchange efficiency negatively. And we can recall that inflammation often results in swelling and thickening of the respiratory membrane. And due to that swelling and thickening of the respiratory membrane, it increases the distance over which the gasses must diffuse between the air in the lungs and in the bloodstream. And as a result of that distance, increasing the efficiency of gas exchange is reduced. Therefore, inflammation negatively impacts the efficiency of gas exchange due to that swelling and thickening of the respiratory membrane, increasing the distance over which the gasses must diffuse between the air in the lungs and the bloodstream. So answer choice c is the correct answer and all other answer choices are incorrect. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.