Ijmb Model Questions Vol1 2020 Biology Question 5

Practice essay / theory question 5 from the 2020 Ijmb Model Questions Vol1 Biology examination. This question covers Transport .

Ijmb Model Questions Vol1 2020 Biology Essay / Theory

Topic: Transport

Question 5 IJMB_MODEL_QUESTIONS_VOL1 • 2020 • BIOLOGY • essay

A capillary of radius 5 µm runs for a length of 1 mm through a well‑perfused skeletal muscle. The oxygen tension in the arterial blood entering the capillary is 100 mmHg, while the tissue oxygen tension surrounding the capillary is 40 mmHg. The diffusion coefficient of oxygen in plasma is 2.1 × 10⁻⁵ cm²·s⁻¹ and the capillary wall thickness is 1 µm.

Question Parts

( a )

Calculate the rate of oxygen diffusion from the blood into the tissue across this capillary segment using Fick’s first law. Show all steps and give your answer in cm³·mmHg·s⁻¹.

( b )

Explain qualitatively how an increase in the capillary wall thickness to 2 µm would affect the diffusion rate, citing the relevant principle.

( c )

A person suffers from anaemia, reducing the haemoglobin concentration by 30 %. Discuss how this change would influence overall oxygen delivery to the muscle, considering both diffusion and transport aspects.

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About This Question

This is Ijmb Model Questions Vol1 2020 Biology Question 5. It is one of the essay questions from the 2020 Ijmb Model Questions Vol1 Biology examination.

The question covers Transport .

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