00:01
How might zero gravity affect respiration? and how could we test our hypothesis? so how could zero gravity affect the functioning of the lungs? let's draw a lung here.
00:16
So here is a lung and under earth gravity it is extremely client.
00:27
Most of the space inside is going to be air when inhaling.
00:31
So all of the very delicate alveoli are very capable of movement.
00:38
So they are going to be very affected by gravity.
00:41
And how this actually affects the lungs is that it changes how much partial pressure you get at the base compared to the apex, and also how much blood flow you get, because the blood flow upwards is going to be more effort.
00:58
You get more gas exchange at the base compared to the apex, basically, which we would be losing under zero gravity.
01:05
So perhaps for hypothesis would be that hypothesis would be that the loss of gravity affects perfusion of air.
01:21
And now we have to think, would that likely improve ventilation, or would it decrease it? and we would suspect that it would likely decrease ventilation because these lungs are well adapted to earth conditions and they are well adapted to having increased blood flow at one side.
01:50
So if it is evened out, then there wouldn't be time to adapt and increase blood flow to the other regions, so may reduce gas exchange...