Question

Which option will be correct for the market place in the diagram shown below?

(a) Alveoli

(b) Arterial blood

(c) Venous blood

(d) Brain

This question was posed to me in an online interview.

My question is taken from Mechanism of Action of General Anesthetics in chapter Local & General Anesthetics, Opioid Analgesics, Drug Addiction and Drug Abuse of Drug Biotechnology

Answer 1

Correct choice is (d) Brain

Explanation: Partial Pressure in brain quickly equilibrates with partial pressure in arterial blood which has equilibrated with partial pressure perfused alveoli. Furthermore, the depth of anesthesia induced by an inhaled anesthetic depends on the partial pressure of the anesthetics in the brain, and the rate of induction and recovery from anesthesia depends on the rate of change of partial pressure in the brain. These drugs are small lipid-soluble molecules that can cross the alveolar membrane easily. Move into and out of the blood based on the partial pressure gradient.