Physiology

Partial Pressure

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Key Terms
These are the key terms and concepts covered in this lesson. After you have
learned a term, take a moment to write out your own explanation of the term.

Air pressure and components

• Patm Total pressure in (Earth's) atmosphere. 1 atm = 760 mm Hg

• PN2 Partial Pressure of Nitrogen (N2) = 593 mm Hg (roughly).

• PO2 Partial Pressure of Oxygen (O2) = 160 mm Hg, in blood, remember that the PO2 of oxygen is
INDEPENDENT with the binding of hemoglobin (Hgb), thus the partial pressure of O2 is
unaffected by the binding oxygen (with Hgb), rather is only affected with the dissolved oxygen
in the blood. This is different (and often mistaken) from oxygen content where = dissolved
Alveolus oxygen + oxygen bound to Hgb, whilst partial pressure = reflective of dissolved oxygen only.

Atmospheric pressure Atmospheric pressure is calculated as 760 mm Hg at sea level (0 ft). Otherwise known as the
barometric pressure (pressure in container/body of gas).

Boyle’s Law (P × V = k) Boyle's Law refers to the inverse relationship between pressure and volume for a fixed amount
of gas at constant temperature. Pressure (P) x Volume (V) = constant (k).

Capillaries

Hemoglobin (Hgb) A protein found in red blood cells, that often makes oxygen binds towards the red blood cell.

Physiology
Partial Pressure
Partial pressure
Partial pressure of a gas dissolved
in liquid
Pgas = Fgas × Ptotal
(where Fgas = fraction of gas)
Ptotal = P1 + … + Pn (Dalton’s law)
Total oxygen in the blood
(Total O2 in blood = O2 dissolved +
O2 bound to hemoglobin)
Partial pressure tells us about properties of gases, and the amount of gas that we have in a
particular situation. Partial pressure of a gas is calculated as the concentration (percentage) of
that gas multiplied by the atmospheric pressure (P gas = P atm x F gas).
Equals to Partial Pressure of gas (in a state of equilibrium, gas in atmosphere will come to
equilibrium with dissolved gas in liquid, refer to example of opening a champagne bottle). The
partial pressure of a gas in a liquid is equal to the partial pressure of the specified gas in the air
adjacent to the liquid (above/out of liquid).
Equation of finding the partial pressure of a specified gas in a given atmosphere.
Calculation for Barometric pressure (P total).
Oxygen content in blood, remember that this is different with the factors that affect the partial
pressure of oxygen! (Only affected by concentration in alveolus and dissolved oxygen in liquid
blood).
Physiology
Partial Pressure
Concept Video Notes
Use the space below to jot down key points for each concept video. Attempt to
make connections between the concepts explained in these videos and others
already covered in the course. Are you unsure about any of the content? After
you take notes on each video, see if you can answer the questions posed with
each video.

Partial Pressure Basics

Video Notes

Partial pressure tells us about properties of gases, and the amount of gas that we have in a particular situation. The most common
example would be the gases in our atmosphere which includes; oxygen & nitrogen.

The total pressure (P atm) on Earth's atmosphere that is present at sea level (0 ft) would be 760 millimeters of mercury (mm), P atm =
760 mm. When we discuss about partial pressure, or specifically "what component of the atmosphere consists of oxygen?", we need to
take a look at the partial pressure of oxygen. Where the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) equals to the atmospheric pressure (P atm /
Key
totalQuestions
of all gases in the atmosphere) multiplied by the fraction of those gases that consists of oxygen (FO2 / fraction of oxygen in the
atmosphere).
1) How do you calculate partial pressures of component gases in the atmosphere under typical environmental conditions, and in
- PO2 = P atm x FO2
special circumstances in which the gas we breathe is pressurized?
- General Equation – Partial pressure of gas = P atm x fraction of gas in atmosphere

P atm (total pressure in atmosphere) = 760 mm Hg

Calculation example (with PO2)
Equation – Pg (Partial pressure of gas) = P atm x Fg (Fraction of gas in atmosphere)
PO2 = P atm x FO2
PO2 = 760Gas
Dissolved mminHg x 0.21= (since
Liquid O2 is
Pg (when knownintoequilibrium)
reached have the fraction of gas of 21% in the atmosphere)
PO2 = 160 mm Hg
2) What is the relationship between the dissolved concentration of a gas in a liquid and the partial pressure of that gas?
This calculation may also be done with nitrogen :D

When we are discussing about gases interacting with bodies of liquid/water, we know for a fact that the gas molecules float above these
liquid/water bodies, and with their random movement will also eventually interact with the liquid/water and dissolve into the
water/liquid itself. As more & more gas molecules (for instance, oxygen) dissolve into bodies of water/liquid, some of them will impact
the surface and thus leave the water and return into their gaseous state.

When we establish an equilibrium between the two, that is to say between the oxygen molecules impacting as well as dissolving in the
How
3)water, doesboth
when equilibration
factors are of
in gases acrosswe
equilibrium, a gas-liquid
are able tointerface
describe occur?
the amount of gas (O2) dissolved in the water which will equal to
the partial pressure of the gas above the water:
Dissolved Gas in Liquid = Pg (when reached in equilibrium)
O2 dissolved in Water = PO2 in the air above water (atmosphere)
O2 dissolved in Water = 160 mm Hg

Thus in conclusion, partial pressure can be used to describe as what is happening in the gaseous state as well as describe the gases that
are dissolved in the liquid condition as well.

Champagne Bottle Example, Part 1

Video Notes

Physiology
Partial Pressure
Key Questions

1) Why do we get a pop when the cork is removed from a champagne bottle?

2) Why are there no bubbles initially and then bubbles when the cork is removed?

Champagne Bottle Example, Part 2

Video Notes

Key Questions

1) How would you explain the effect of partial pressure gradients on the movement of gases across a gas-liquid interface?

Partial Pressures in the Lungs and Blood

Video Notes

Physiology
Partial Pressure
Key Questions

1) How would you explain the effect of partial pressure gradients on the movement of gases across the alveolar-capillary interface?

2) What are the forms in which oxygen is transported in the blood?

3) What is the difference between partial pressure of oxygen in blood and oxygen content of blood?

Physiology
Partial Pressure
Learning Objectives
After you have completed the lesson, go through the learning objectives again.
Are you able to fill in a complete response to each learning objective?

1) Calculate partial pressures of component gases in the atmosphere under typical environmental conditions, and in special
circumstances in which the gas we breathe is pressurized

2) Explain the relationship between the dissolved concentration of a gas in a liquid and the partial pressure of that gas

3) Explain the equilibration of gases across a gas-liquid interface

4) Explain the effect of partial pressure gradients on the movement of gases across the alveolar-capillary interface

5) Delineate the forms in which oxygen is transported in the blood

6) Explain the difference between partial pressure of oxygen in blood and oxygen content of blood

Physiology
Partial Pressure
7) Describe the role nitrogen plays in decompression sickness

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Physiology
Partial Pressure