Learning Object: Contrasting Lung Function to a Wine Glass

PO2 = 159mmHg PCO2 = 0.3mmHg

Atmosphere Air

PO2 = 105mmHg PCO2 = 40mmHg

Air in the Lung

Oxygen and
Carbon Dioxide in PO2 = 100mmHg
Circulating Blood PCO2 = 40mmHg

Cell Membrane or
Transport
Channel

Cell or Tissue PO2 = 40mmHg PCO2 = 45mmHg

Description of Learning Object

Purpose: The purpose of this learning object is to help the instructor teach the principle of partial
pressures within the respiratory system to a third level student. A wine glass is used in order to
approach the student with something that is familiar to them in everyday life.

When we use this analogy to contrast the partial pressured of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere, lungs, blood, and cells or tissues, we facilitate better understanding of the locations of
key points of interaction between gas exchange within the body.

Each location can be taught in more detail, engraving key landmarks on our memory with ease:

 Atmosphere: The area above the wine glass in this 1 dimensional diagram, is depicted as the
atmosphere. Here, the partial pressures are listed at sea level. For convenience, oxygen is on
the left, and carbon dioxide is on the right.
 Lungs: As air enters the wine glass this can be described as analogous to air entering the
lungs. A key land mark here is the interaction between the tiny alveoli, inside the lungs, and
the blood to facilitate gas exchange into and out of the blood.
 Circulating blood: The red wine represents the blood in the body. The instructor can use this
phase for engaging the students about questions on the different directions of the pressure
gradients, the components of blood that transport gasses, and perhaps the amount of blood
required for different tasks.
 Cell Membrane: The stem of the wine glass can be used to depict the road or bridge that
transports oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from cell tissues. In the learning object above,
the directional arrows are placed outside of the stem, but could be placed inside the stem
itself. Also, the stem could be used to make some talking points about a number of factors
that can effect gas exchange across the membrane.
 Cell or Tissue: The foot of the wine glass represents the cell or body tissue that requires gas
exchange. Here, we can imagine a small crack in the foot of the glass to represent a constant
flow or supply of oxygen. However, it might be worth noting or having the students describe
how or why the crack would also be relevant in the directional flow of carbon dioxide from
where it is created, to where it is expelled from the body.

Since substances travel from high pressure areas to low pressure areas, or high concentrations to
low concentrations, the blue directional arrow depicts the pressure gradient of carbon dioxide, and
the red directional arrow depicts the pressure gradient of oxygen.

To the right hand side of the learning object, specific diagrams are placed to help prompt the
students for key body locations, mechanisms of transport, and important principals of
haemodynamics.