Which gas law explains the soft tissue swelling noted during rotor wing transport?

The gas law that best explains soft tissue swelling during rotor-wing transport is Dalton's Law. This law states that the total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the pressures of each individual gas in the mixture. When the external pressure decreases, such as during rotor-wing transport at higher altitudes, the partial pressures of gases, particularly nitrogen, in the body also decrease, which can lead to the formation of nitrogen bubbles. This effect can contribute to soft tissue swelling and the manifestation of decompression sickness.

While Boyle's Law relates to the volume and pressure of a gas at constant temperature, it does not specifically address the biochemical changes in the tissues that lead to swelling. Charles's Law involves the relationship between volume and temperature at constant pressure and does not directly pertain to soft tissue swelling. Henry's Law describes the solubility of a gas in a liquid under pressure, but again, it does not adequately account for the physiological effects observed in soft tissue swelling during lower pressure situations, such as flight. Thus, Dalton's Law is the most relevant in explaining this phenomenon.