abnormal gas exchange

pathology

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July 23, 2026

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Abnormal gas exchange in the human respiratory system occurs when the lungs cannot adequately transfer oxygen into the blood or remove carbon dioxide. This can happen due to several factors, including hypoventilation (insufficient air intake), shunting (blood bypassing functioning lung tissue), ventilation-blood flow imbalance, or diffusion limitations.1

Impaired oxygen exchange is more common than impaired carbon dioxide exchange. For instance, decompression sickness, experienced by divers or pilots, results from gas bubbles forming in the body due to rapid pressure changes, primarily involving nitrogen. Lung diseases can also lead to abnormal gas exchange, affecting the blood's gas composition. Diagnostic methods like CT scans, ventilation-perfusion scans, and blood gas analysis help identify these issues.213

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human respiratory system
Abnormal gas exchange
Mechanisms of abnormal gas exchange are grouped into four categories—hypoventilation, shunting, ventilation–blood flow imbalance, and limitations of diffusion.
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Mechanisms of abnormal gas exchange are grouped into four categories—hypoventilation, shunting, ventilation–blood flow imbalance, and limitations of diffusion.
Read More