In the science fiction movie The Abyss, a diver is able to breathe while his head is immersed in a specially prepared liquid pumped into a water-tight helmet attached to a suit, thus allowing him to dive without an air tank and at greater depths than possible for scuba divers. Is this purely fiction, or is it at least theoretically possible? Explain, considering the nature of alveoli and alveolar
gas exchange. Assuming it is possible, describe the composition and nature of the liquid in terms of its oxygen pressure and concentration.
What will be an ideal response?
(Note to instructor: Such experiments were done in the 1960s with rodents, and were partially successful but ultimately deemed impractical and too risky for humans.) It is theoretically possible. Oxygen dissolves in a thin film of fluid in the alveoli, thus even in normal breathing a liquid containing dissolved oxygen is involved. Obviously the respiratory gases would have to be soluble in this liquid and in concentrations appropriate to maintain the partial pressures necessary to drive diffusion.
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The exocrine portion of the pancreas is composed of
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Spongy bone
A. contains no osteocytes. B. is composed of tubular units called osteons. C. forms diploe in the cranial bones. D. has spaces filled with yellow marrow. E. All of the choices are correct.
Some membrane proteins are not embedded within the lipid bilayer but are instead anchored loosely to either the inner or the outer surface. Such proteins are called ________ proteins.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).