Which of these factors can contribute to V/Q mismatch?

V/Q mismatch refers to the imbalance between ventilation (V) and perfusion (Q) in the lungs, leading to inefficient gas exchange and impaired oxygenation. Each of the factors listed can indeed contribute to this mismatch in different ways.

Fluid accumulation in the lungs, such as in conditions like pulmonary edema, increases the fluid in the alveoli. This can hinder the ability of oxygen to diffuse into the blood, resulting in decreased ventilation in the affected areas, thereby disrupting the normal V/Q ratio.

Bronchoconstriction, which is the narrowing of the airways, reduces airflow to the alveoli. This condition often occurs in asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and can lead to regions of the lung being adequately perfused with blood but not well-ventilated, also contributing to a V/Q mismatch.

Pulmonary embolism involves the obstruction of a pulmonary artery, usually by a blood clot. This blockage reduces blood flow to the areas of the lung it supplies, which means some alveoli are perfectly ventilated but not adequately perfused, again leading to an imbalance in the V/Q ratio.

Since all these factors disrupt the delicate balance necessary for effective gas exchange, it is accurate to say that each can contribute to V