Why Is CO an Ideal Gas for Measuring Diffusing Capacity

question 26

Multiple Choice

Why is CO an ideal gas for measuring diffusing capacity of the lungs?

• A) It is taken up by Hb in a manner similar to O₂.
• B) It is always present in capillary blood at 0.3%.
• C) It is quickly converted to CO₂ in the lungs.
• D) It does not react with He or other tracer gases.

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Definitions:

Dichotomously Branched

A branching pattern where each branch divides into two parts at a certain point.

Megaphylls

Leaves with a highly branched vascular system, characteristic of the majority of vascular plants, offering increased efficiency in photosynthesis.

Capsule

A protective layer, typically polysaccharide or protein, surrounding the cell walls of some bacteria and fungi.

Haploid Spores

Reproductive cells produced by some plants, fungi, and protists that have only one set of chromosomes and can develop into a new organism without needing to fuse with another cell.