17 Pulmonary Circulation Flashcards
Q: What is the pulmonary circulation? Use? What is it not?
A: from blood leaving right ventricle to lungs to left atrium
Perfusion of the respiratory airways for gas exchange
bronchial circulation (blood to cells that constitute lung)
Q: What are the 3 main differences between pulmonary and systemic circulation?
A: arterial thickness
- systemic has thicker wall and less lumen
- pulm has thinner walls and more lumen
circuit length/distance
- systemic has to go much further eg finger tips
- pulm just has to go to lungs and back to heart
ventricular thickness
-thicker wall for left ventricle (more efficient pump- allows the left ventricle to generate HIGH PRESSURES)
pressure
- higher systemic circ pressure
- pulm circuit has lower pressure
Q: Compare the circuit pressures for the systemic and pulmonary circulation via the difference in pressure between the aorta and pulmonary artery. One other.
A: 120/80
25/8
RA of systemic circ has pressure of 1 while LA of pulm has 3mmHg
Q: What’s the pressure difference between the LV and aorta? why?
Aorta and systemic capillaries?
Systemic capillaries and vena cava?
Vena cava to RA?
RA and RV?
RV and pulmonary artery?
Pulmonary artery and pulmonary capillaries?
Pulmonary capillaries and pulmonary vein?
Pulmonary vein and LA
A: all are drops
due to structure of aorta and its recoil
massive drop
massive drop
RA pressure is 1 (not relying on blood pressure from vena cava to get blood back-> relying on skeletal muscle pump and pressure difference too)
increase (force of RV contraction)
drops..
returns back to left side of heart at higher pressure than blood did to right side
Q: Comparing systemic and pulmonary circulation. What is overall cardiac output? how much of total body blood? How does volume differ between the circuits?
Pressure gradient?
Resistance?
A: 5L (10%)
-4.5 is systemic and 0.5 is pulmonary
lower in pulmonary-> give lower flow rate
smaller in pulmonary
Q: What are the functions of the pulmonary circulation? (3)
A: 1. Gas exchange (oxygen delivery, carbon dioxide, CO and NO delivery too
- Metabolism of vasoactive substances
- Filtration of blood
Q: How much time is available for gas exchange? called?
Q: time available for gas exchange= pulmonary transit time- 0.75s
Q: What is the pulmonary circulations role in terms of metabolism? (2)
A: ACE is present on pulmonary endothelial cells
- turns ANG I to ANG II= potent vasoconstrictor (and waste)
- breaks down bradykinin (vasodilator)
both result in more vasoconstriction
Q: Define embolus. Embolism.
A: An embolus is a ‘mass’ within the circulation capable of causing obstruction
An embolism is an ‘event’ characterised by obstruction of a major artery
Q: What type of circuit is the pulmonary one? What can still happen? which side? How does this reflect the role of the pulmonary circulation?
A: Although the entire circulation is principally a closed circuit
sometimes things can get ‘caught’ in the blood (usually on venous side- slower flow)
the pulmonary circulation filters before systemic arteries
Q: Name 3 types of embolus? 2 types they can become? Result of both?
A: Venous thrombosis
Ruptured fatty plaques
Air bubbles
small-> eliminated in pulmonary microcirculation
large-> trapped in pulmonary microcirculation (pulmonary embolism) = local perfusion is obstructed-> can lead to death
Q: What is a pulmonary shunt? Name 3.
A: ‘…circumstances associated with bypassing the respiratory exchange surface…’
- Bronchial circulation
- Foetal circulation
- Congenital defect
Q: Describe the bronchial circulation.
A: -> technically a shunt because the blood that leaves the LV into the aortic arch and eventually perfuses some of bronchial tree (keeps it alive)-> instead of returning to right side of heart-> bronchial drainage
Q: Describe foetal circulation.
A: -> not using lungs
use foramen ovale (LA and RA) and ductus arteriosus (aorta and pulm artery) -> allow heart to beat normally
Q: How can a congenital defect lead to a shunt? (2)
A: -if your foramen ovale doesn’t close-> patent FO -> type of atrial septal defect
-ventral septal defect