Study for the Respiratory Therapy Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, featuring hints and explanations. Prepare for your exam successfully!

Multiple Choice

What is the alveolar gas equation coefficient for water vapor pressure at body temperature?

In the alveolar gas equation, you account for the humidity of inspired air by subtracting the water vapor pressure from the barometric pressure. At body temperature (37°C), the water vapor pressure is 47 mmHg, because air saturates with water vapor to that value. This 47 mmHg is the number used in the equation to reflect the amount of pressure carried by dry O2 after humidification. So the correct value is 47 mmHg. The other numbers don’t correspond to the water vapor pressure at 37°C.

In the alveolar gas equation, you account for the humidity of inspired air by subtracting the water vapor pressure from the barometric pressure. At body temperature (37°C), the water vapor pressure is 47 mmHg, because air saturates with water vapor to that value. This 47 mmHg is the number used in the equation to reflect the amount of pressure carried by dry O2 after humidification. So the correct value is 47 mmHg. The other numbers don’t correspond to the water vapor pressure at 37°C.