Final answer:
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs often caused by infections, leading to fluid-filled alveoli which inhibit gas exchange and cause hypoxia. The respiratory membrane allows the exchange of gases in the lungs. Breathing extra oxygen helps pneumonia patients by improving oxygen absorption into the blood.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung affecting primarily the microscopic air sacs known as alveoli. It is typically caused by infections due to bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, or by an injury caused by chemicals or a physical injury to the lungs. Common symptoms include cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing.
How Does Pneumonia Cause Hypoxia?
Pneumonia leads to hypoxia, which is a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues, by inhibiting gas exchange in the alveoli. The alveoli become filled with fluid from the inflammatory response, preventing oxygen from being properly absorbed into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide from being expelled.
What is the Respiratory Membrane?
The respiratory membrane is the barrier through which gases are exchanged within the alveoli of the lungs and the capillaries that envelop them. It consists of the alveolar wall, the capillary wall, and their fused basement membranes.
Why Do Pneumonia Patients Benefit from Breathing Extra Oxygen?
Patients with pneumonia benefit from breathing extra oxygen because it helps to alleviate the hypoxia caused by impaired gas exchange. Supplemental oxygen increases the concentration of oxygen in the airways and alveoli, aiding the diffusion of oxygen into the blood, and thereby reducing the symptoms and risks associated with low oxygen levels.