The condition acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by damage to the respiratory membrane that causes it to thicken. What effect will this thickening have on the pulmonary gas exchange?

a) It would increase external gas exchange because thickness would increase surface area-to-volume ratio.
b) There will be a decrease in internal gas exchange.
c) The thickness of the respiratory membrane will decrease the rate at which external gas exchange can occur.
d) There would be a decrease in oxygen gas exchange and increase in carbon dioxide gas exchange.


Answer: c) The thickness of the respiratory membrane will decrease the rate at which external gas exchange can occur.

Anatomy & Physiology

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