Which physiological mechanism is notably disrupted by V/Q mismatch?

V/Q mismatch, which stands for ventilation-perfusion mismatch, refers to an imbalance between airflow (ventilation) and blood flow (perfusion) in the lungs. This disruption fundamentally impacts several physiological mechanisms critical for maintaining effective gas exchange.

When there is a mismatch, certain areas of the lung may receive adequate blood flow but not enough oxygen, while other areas might be ventilated but poorly perfused. This scenario leads to inefficient gas exchange, as oxygen may not adequately diffuse into the blood, and carbon dioxide may not be effectively removed from the bloodstream.

Therefore, gas diffusion in the alveoli is impacted because the oxygen concentration in the alveoli does not equate properly with the blood flow to the alveolar capillaries. As a result, oxygen transport in the blood is compromised since less oxygen is available in the blood. Similarly, the removal of carbon dioxide becomes ineffective because it relies on the proper exchange of gases, which is disrupted by the V/Q mismatch.

Since V/Q mismatch affects all three mechanisms—gas diffusion, oxygen transport, and carbon dioxide removal—choosing the option that encompasses all of these aspects is indeed accurate.