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 Experiment Videos

Diffusion at high altitude

J B West

    Federation Proceedings
    |April 1, 1982
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    High altitude exercise severely limits oxygen diffusion, causing low blood oxygen levels even at rest. Maximal oxygen uptake on Mt. Everest is predicted to be less than 700 ml/min due to extreme hypoxia.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

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

    Sort by
    Same author

    Excess energy and photosynthesis: responses to seasonal water limitations in co-occurring woody encroachers of the semi-arid Southern Great Plains.

    Photosynthetica·2024
    Same author

    Endotypes of difficult-to-control asthma in inner-city African American children.

    PloS one·2017
    Same author

    Predawn disequilibrium between plant and soil water potentials in two cold-desert shrubs.

    Oecologia·2017
    Same author

    Vibrational Branching Ratios and Asymmetry Parameters in the Photoionization of CO2 in the Region Between 650 Å and 840 Å.

    Journal of research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology·2016
    Same author

    A strategy for reducing neonatal mortality at high altitude using oxygen conditioning.

    Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association·2015
    Same author

    Relationship between land use classification and grass shrimp Palaemonetes spp. population metrics in coastal watersheds.

    Environmental monitoring and assessment·2014
    Same journal

    ASBESTOS FIBERS MEDIATE THE UPTAKE OF DNA INTO PRIMATE CELLS IN CULTURE.

    Federation proceedings·2018
    Same journal

    Chemical protection of mammalian tissues.

    Federation proceedings·2014
    Same journal

    Dietary requirements for fertility and lactation; dried yeasts as sources of proteins and vitamin B complex for growth, reproduction and lactation.

    Federation proceedings·2010
    Same journal

    On the mode of action of chlorinating compounds.

    Federation proceedings·2010
    Same journal

    d-Amino acid oxidase of Proteus morganii.

    Federation proceedings·2010
    Same journal

    Studies on thymus nucleohistone.

    Federation proceedings·2010
    See all related articles

    Area of Science:

    • Physiology
    • Altitude Medicine
    • Pulmonary Gas Exchange

    Background:

    • Exercise at high altitude presents challenges for oxygen diffusion across the blood-gas barrier.
    • The 1978 ascent of Mt. Everest without supplemental oxygen highlighted the physiological issues of extreme hypoxia.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To conduct a theoretical study of gas exchange during extreme hypoxia at high altitude.
    • To analyze oxygenation and predict maximal oxygen uptake under such conditions.

    Main Methods:

    • Theoretical modeling of gas exchange along pulmonary capillaries.
    • Calculation of alveolar-end capillary PO2 and mixed venous PO2.
    • Prediction of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) based on physiological parameters.

    Related Experiment Videos

    Main Results:

    • A significant alveolar-end capillary PO2 of approximately 6 torr exists at rest due to diffusion limitation.
    • This diffusion limitation worsens with mild exercise, leading to very low mixed venous PO2 values.
    • Maximal oxygen uptake on Mt. Everest is predicted to be under 700 ml/min, assuming a minimal mixed venous PO2 of 15 torr.

    Conclusions:

    • Gas exchange is severely impaired at extreme altitudes, even at rest.
    • Maximal oxygen uptake is highly sensitive to reduced barometric pressure and, to a lesser extent, lung diffusing capacity.
    • These findings have implications for understanding human physiological limits at extreme altitudes.