1 - Respiratory Cycle & Mechanics Flashcards
What does “P” stand for?
Partial pressure of a gas – you must specify which gas you are referring to. The units are mmHg.
- **PO2 = partial pressure of oxygen
- **PCO2 = partial pressure of carbon dioxide
What does “Q” (or “Q” with a dot over it) stand for?
Blood flow
What does “V” stand for?
Volume of gas (VT = Tidal Volume, or volume per breath)
What does “V” with a dot over it (named Vdot) stand for?
Airflow or volume per unit time
What does “F” stand for?
Fractional concentration of gas (again you specify what gas you are referring to). There are no units.
- **FO2 = partial pressure of oxygen (100% oxygen = 1.0; 21% = 0.21)
- **FCO2 = partial pressure of carbon dioxide
What does “A” (or ALV) stand for?
Alveolar gas.
***Conventional use: PAO2
What does “a” stand for?
Arterial gas.
***Conventional use: PaO2
What does “v” stand for?
Venous blood.
***Conventional use: PvO2
What does “E” stand for?
Expired gas. Can indicate that the volume in question was measured during expiration.
What does “I” stand for?
Inspired gas.
***FIO2 = Fraction of inspired oxygen
Which lung volumes change with aging naturally?
Residual Volume increases
FRC increases
***Remember, FVC decreases
Obesity can greatly reduce lung volumes. The main difference is no change between when they are ________ or ________.
Seated
Supine
***See Slide 14 for Figure!
_________ is the passive movement of air into the lungs.
Inspiration
During inspiration, the pressure of gas is inversely proportional to its volume. This is _______ ______.
Boyle’s Law
***P1V1 = P2V2
During inspiration, an increase in lung volume results in a (INCREASE/DECREASE) in pressure. This is when air (ENTERS/EXITS).
Decrease
Exits
During expiration, a decrease in lung volume results in a (INCREASE/DECREASE) in pressure. This is when air (ENTERS/EXITS).
Increase
Exits
During inspiration there is (CONTRACTION/RELAXATION) of inspiratory muscles.
Contraction
For inspiration, there is an increase in thoracic volume. The lungs and muscles/ribs are NOT directly connected. The chest wall wants to ________, while the lungs want to ________. There is interplay.
Expand
Collapse
Between the visceral and parietal pleura there is ________ ________ that is 5-35 um thick.
Parietal Fluid
__________ Pressure (P-PL) is less than atmospheric pressure (negative).
Intrapleural
It is helpful to think of P-IP as the _________ pressure. This is the pressure everywhere in the thorax except in the lumens of blood vessels, lymphatics, or airways.
Intrathoracic
Because the pressures we deal with are relatively small (plus some storied history), pressures in respiratory physiology are in ________ (NOT mmHg as in cardiovascular physiology).
cm H2O
***We normalize atmospheric pressure to 0 cm H2O (so PB 760 mmHg becomes 0 cm H2O, even if PB changes).
At rest, intrapleural pressure (P-PL) is near ______ cm H2O. During inspiration, volume increases and P-PL decreases to near _______ cm H2O. Because of ________ between lungs and chest wall, lungs expand as thorax expands.
-5
-8
Coupling
As thoracic cavity increases in size, pleural pressure (P-PL) – pressure within pleural space – will (INCREASE/DECREASE). It starts negative and becomes more negative.
Decrease
As thoracic cavity increases in size, alveolar pressure (PA) – pressure within alveoli – will (INCREASE/DECREASE).
Decrease
At rest, PB = PA = 0 cm H2O. At the end of inspiration, PA is now _______ cm H2O. This is due to the increase in alveolar size. This is what causes air to enter the lungs!
-1
This pressure is the difference between PA (alveolar pressure) and P-PL (intrapleural pressure).
Transpulmonary Pressure (P-TP)
Transpulmonary Pressure (P-TP) is _______ at rest.
5 cm H2O
***Transpulmonary Pressure = Alveolar Pressure - Intrapleural Pressure
What would happen if P-TP = 0?
PA and P-PL would be the same.
What are the values for the following when a person is at rest (between inspiration/expiration)?
- Volume Change (liters)
- Alveolar Pressure (cm H2O)
- Intrapleural Pressure (cm H2O)
- Air Flow (L/sec)
Volume = 0 L
PA = 0 cm H2O
P-PL = -5 cm H2O
Air Flow = 0 L/sec
What happens to the following when a person is at mid-inspiration?
- Volume Change (liters)
- Alveolar Pressure (cm H2O)
- Intrapleural Pressure (cm H2O)
- Air Flow (L/sec)
Volume = Increasing (from 0 L)
PA = Decreasing (from 0 cm H2O)
P-PL = Decreasing (from -5 cm H2O)
Air Flow = Flowing into lungs (going negative from 0 L/sec)
What happens to the following when a person is at the end of inspiration?
- Volume Change (liters)
- Alveolar Pressure (cm H2O)
- Intrapleural Pressure (cm H2O)
- Air Flow (L/sec)
Volume = Has reached peak increase (positive)
– Tidal Volume (VT = 500 mL)
PA = Returned to 0 cm H2O
P-PL = Decreased to -8 cm H2O
Air Flow = Has stopped (back at 0 L/sec)