Question

With pulmonary hypertension, the lung's capillary walls become thicker to compensate for the higher pressure. What does Fick's law suggest will happen to CO2 concentrations?

A) CO2 levels in the cells will decrease.

B) CO2 levels in the blood will remain the same.

C) CO2 levels in the tissues will decrease.

D) CO2 levels in the blood will increase.

E) CO2 in the alveoli will increase

Answer 1

According to Fick's law, CO2 concentrations will remain the same with pulmonary hypertension.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Fick's law, which describes the diffusion of gases across a membrane, the rate of diffusion is proportional to the surface area, the difference in partial pressure, and the solubility of the gas. In this case, with pulmonary hypertension causing the lung's capillary walls to become thicker, the surface area for diffusion may be reduced.

However, since Fick's law does not suggest any changes in the partial pressure or solubility of CO2, we can assume that CO2 concentrations will remain the same. Therefore, the correct answer is B) CO2 levels in the blood will remain the same.