Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

External and Internal Respiration01:24

External and Internal Respiration

External respiration occurs in the lungs, and it is the first step in the journey of oxygen inside the body. When we inhale, oxygen enters our lungs and diffuses across the thin alveolar membrane. The alveoli are tiny, air-filled sacs that provide a vast surface area for gas exchange. Oxygen in the alveoli has a higher partial pressure (105 mmHg) than in the adjacent pulmonary capillaries (40 mmHg), establishing a pressure gradient. As a result, oxygen molecules move from the alveoli into the...
Physical Principles Governing Gas Exchange01:16

Physical Principles Governing Gas Exchange

Gas behavior plays a vital role in understanding bodily processes such as external and internal respiration. External respiration involves the diffusion of oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out of it in the lungs. In contrast, internal respiration happens in body tissues, where these gases move in opposite directions.
Gas Laws Governing Respiration
The behavior of gases is guided by Dalton's Law of partial pressures and Henry's Law.
Dalton's Law asserts that the total pressure exerted by...
Gas Exchange and Transport01:20

Gas Exchange and Transport

Gas exchange, the intake of molecular oxygen (O2) from the environment and the outflow of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment, is necessary for cellular function. Gas exchange during respiration occurs largely via the movement of gas molecules along pressure gradients. Gas travels from areas of higher partial pressure to areas of lower partial pressure. In mammals, gas exchange occurs in the alveoli of the lungs, which are adjacent to capillaries and share a membrane with them.
Respiration and Gaseous Exchange01:20

Respiration and Gaseous Exchange

The intricate interplay between the cardiovascular and respiratory systems is crucial for efficiently transporting respiratory gases throughout the body. Let us explore the cardiovascular system's multifaceted functions, emphasizing its pivotal role in gas exchange.
Respiration involves the exchange of gases, especially oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), between the alveoli and body cells, a process facilitated by blood circulation. As a result, the cardiovascular system, which involves the...
Pulmonary Ventilation: Inhalation01:24

Pulmonary Ventilation: Inhalation

Pulmonary ventilation is a vital process that ensures the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs. It refers to the movement of air into and out of the lungs, enabling the body to obtain oxygen and remove waste carbon dioxide. In this article, we will explore the intricacies of pulmonary ventilation, including its underlying principles, mechanisms, and the interplay of pressures within the respiratory system.
Boyle's law becomes particularly pertinent when examining respiratory...
Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation01:17

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation

In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Avascular Necrosis (Aseptic Osteonecrosis).

Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc·2026
Same author

Can my patient dive after a first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax? A systematic review of the literature.

Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc·2018
Same author

Assessment of the interaction of hyperbaric N2, CO2, and O2 on psychomotor performance in divers.

Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)·2016
Same author

The value of occlusive balloons in the management of abnormal placentation: A retrospective study.

Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology·2015
Same author

Don't dive cold when you don't have to.

Diving and hyperbaric medicine·2015
Same author

Pulmonary embolism presenting as a seizure in the immediate postpartum period.

Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology·2014

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Dual Test Gas Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Measurement During Exercise in Humans Using the Single-Breath Method
08:44

Dual Test Gas Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Measurement During Exercise in Humans Using the Single-Breath Method

Published on: February 2, 2024

Pulmonary gas exchange in diving.

R E Moon1, A D Cherry, B W Stolp

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. richard.moon@duke.edu

Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|November 15, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Diving increases breathing resistance and work due to gas density and immersion. This leads to reduced ventilation and higher carbon dioxide levels (hypercapnia) during underwater exercise.

More Related Videos

Combining Volumetric Capnography And Barometric Plethysmography To Measure The Lung Structure-function Relationship
08:25

Combining Volumetric Capnography And Barometric Plethysmography To Measure The Lung Structure-function Relationship

Published on: January 8, 2019

Assessment of Pulmonary Capillary Blood Volume, Membrane Diffusing Capacity, and Intrapulmonary Arteriovenous Anastomoses During Exercise
07:09

Assessment of Pulmonary Capillary Blood Volume, Membrane Diffusing Capacity, and Intrapulmonary Arteriovenous Anastomoses During Exercise

Published on: February 20, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Dual Test Gas Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Measurement During Exercise in Humans Using the Single-Breath Method
08:44

Dual Test Gas Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Measurement During Exercise in Humans Using the Single-Breath Method

Published on: February 2, 2024

Combining Volumetric Capnography And Barometric Plethysmography To Measure The Lung Structure-function Relationship
08:25

Combining Volumetric Capnography And Barometric Plethysmography To Measure The Lung Structure-function Relationship

Published on: January 8, 2019

Assessment of Pulmonary Capillary Blood Volume, Membrane Diffusing Capacity, and Intrapulmonary Arteriovenous Anastomoses During Exercise
07:09

Assessment of Pulmonary Capillary Blood Volume, Membrane Diffusing Capacity, and Intrapulmonary Arteriovenous Anastomoses During Exercise

Published on: February 20, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Environmental Medicine
  • Pulmonary Medicine

Background:

  • Diving involves physiological challenges including increased gas density, immersion effects, and altered oxygen partial pressure.
  • These factors significantly impact respiratory function and gas exchange during underwater activities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the pulmonary effects of underwater diving.
  • To identify the primary mechanisms behind altered respiratory mechanics and gas exchange.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of physiological responses to increased gas density and immersion.
  • Assessment of respiratory mechanics, including airways resistance, compliance, and work of breathing.
  • Evaluation of ventilation-perfusion relationships and gas exchange.

Main Results:

  • Increased gas density elevates airways resistance and work of breathing, reducing maximal breathing capacity.
  • Immersion imposes a static transrespiratory pressure load, decreasing pulmonary compliance.
  • Combined loads reduce ventilation, increase dead space/tidal volume ratio (Vd/Vt), and result in hypercapnia.

Conclusions:

  • Diving-induced hypercapnia is primarily driven by increased gas density and immersion effects on respiratory mechanics.
  • Altered ventilation and increased dead space are key factors, not significantly influenced by high inspired oxygen or narcosis.
  • Pulmonary oxygen exchange remains unimpaired up to a gas density of 25 g/l.