Partial pressure is the pressure exerted by a single type of gas in a mixture of gases. It is proportional to its concentration in the mixture and is essential for understanding gas exchange in biological systems.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Partial pressures drive the diffusion of gases across respiratory surfaces, such as alveolar membranes in the lungs.
Oxygen and carbon dioxide each have their own partial pressures that determine their movement into and out of blood and tissues.
The sum of all partial pressures equals the total atmospheric pressure.
Partial pressure gradients between alveoli and capillaries facilitate gas exchange during respiration.
Henry's Law states that at constant temperature, the amount of a gas dissolved in a liquid is directly proportional to its partial pressure.