What effect would living at a high altitude have on the gas transport cascade? U

Question

What effect would living at a high altitude have on the gas transport cascade?

Use all you know about gas transport cascade to theorize predicted effects. In your answer you should include (and discuss in depth) terms and processes such as gas transport cascade, convection, diffusion, FO2, PO2, PiO2, PaO2, PAO2, ventilation, tidal volume, total pulmonary ventilation, alveolar ventilation, dead space, diffusion, hemoglobin, Hb-O2 dissociation curve, Hb-O2 affinity, hematocrit, blood oxygen carrying capacity, cardiac output, heart rate, pacemaker cells, SA node, funny channels, stroke volume, Frank-starling mechanism, contractility, cardiac hypertrophy, preload, afterload, oxygen consumption (VO2), etc.

Explanation / Answer

Effect of high altitude on gas transport is known ACCLIMATIZATION.

these are the changes in body tissue in response to long term exposure to low po2 .

At high altitude Composition of air remain same, but with increase in height barometric pressure will decrease & Po2 also be decrease which lead to development of hypoxia and to tackle it acclimatization occur-

It include following changes in body-

1 increased in pulmonary ventilation due to low po2 stimulate arterial chemorecepr lead to increased ventilation result in fall of pco2 due to because of hyperventilation lead to respiratory alkalosis.kidnew compensate by excretion more HCO3- in urine. Respiratory alkalosis lead to increased protein bound calcoium and decrease in free calcium lead to hypocalcemic tetany.

2. Increased number of RBCs - hypoxia stimulate secretion of erythropoitin from kidney which stimulate production of RBC and HB production in bonemarrow. Haematocrit increased. lead to hypodynamic circulation.blood o2 carry capacity increased

3 due to hypoxic conditions at high altitude -O2HB dissociation curve shifted to right side, and p50 value rise, pH is deceased, pco2 high, po2 low. Decrease binding of o2 to HB and increased tissue unloading, more o2 relese at tissue.

4 increased vascularity of peripheral tissue- hypoxia stimulate VEGF so angiogenesis occur,

5 increased diffusion capacity of lungs- because of angiogenesis, increased pulmonary capillary , lead to increase area of diffusion.

6 due to hypoxia at initial stage- their is stimulation of cardiovascular system via carotis and aortic body via 9& 10 cranial nerve, of VMC vasomotor center in medulla,lead to increased in Heart rate, high cardiac output, high pacemaker activity, increased cardiac contractility, but no effect in heart size, because these changes will be normalise after acclimatization.

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