4 Compliance Flashcards

1
Q

What do type 2 alveolar cells produce?

A

Surfactant, A detergent like fluid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the function of surfactant?

A

TO reduce surface tension on alveolar surface membranes. Thus reducin the chance they collapse.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What causes alveolar surface tension?

A

Attraction between surface molecules balances out with a net inward pull

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How does surfactant affect compliance?

A

It increases compliance (distensibility) effectively making breathing easier

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Where is surfactatn most effective?

A

On small alveoli because the surfactant molecules get closer & more concentrated.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Why is pressure greater in smaller alveoli?

A

P = (2 x surface tension)/radius

SMaller alveoli have a smaller radius & the same surface tension

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

When is surfactant produced?

A

Starts ~25 weeks

Complete by ~36 weeks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What surfactant related syndrome is often suffered by premature babies?

A

IRDS

Infant REspiratory Distress Syndrome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What stimulates surfactant production?

A

Thyroid hormones
Cortisol
Both increase towards end of pregnancy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is compliance?

A

How much the lung volume changes for any given change in Ip pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does high compliance mean?

A

The lung will have a large volume increase for a small intrapleural pressure decrease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How does compliance relate to elasticity & stretchability?

A

Compliance is a measure of stretchability (how easy the lung is to fill with air)
It doesnt tell you anthing about elasticity (how easily the air is pushed out)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Law of Laplace?

A

P = 2T/r

Tells us the inwardly directed pressure of the alveoli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What kind of alveoli collapse most easily?

A

Smaller alveoli because theyre inwardly directed pressure is the largest. Surfactant combats this

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What hapens in IRDS?

A

No surfactant
Very high inward pressure in alveoli
So lots of small alveoli collapse between breaths
Makes it very hard to breath

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What alveoli are most efficient?

A

The smaller ones because they have the largest surface area:volume ratio

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

best country in the world

A

pasta

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How does age affect compliance?

A

Compliance decreases over age

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How do we determine compliance from graphically\?

A

Draw a graph of ip against lung volume with a curve for inspiration and one for expiration.

A straight line between them will give the value for compliance from its slope;

20
Q

Why is a curve for inspiration less steep at the start?

A

At the start of inspiration the tissue inertia, elasticity and surface tension must be overcome.

21
Q

Why is the curve for expiration less steep at the start?

A

compressing the chest to push out air also compresses the airways thus narrowing them.
Once the chest is quite compressed the pressure is high enough to overcome this and expiration curve steepens

22
Q

What makes expiration passive

A

elastic recoil of lungs

23
Q

What is emphysema?

A

Where tissue loses elasticity so expiration requires more effort and a larger increase in ip pressure to push out all the air

24
Q

What is fibrosis?

A

excess inert fibrous connective tissue means inspiration requires more effort (decreases compliance)

25
Q

How does compliance vary throughout a lung?

A

Greatest compliance at the base of the lung

Least compliance at the apex

26
Q

Why does compliance vary though the lung?

A

Gravity
Alveoli at lung base are squashed by tissue above so are more empty at the end of expiration that the ones at the apex.
Therore on inspiration they are able to inflate more than the ones at the apex

This will vary with postion, if patient is lying down or upside down

27
Q

What is an obstructive lung disease?

A

Increased airway resistance, especially on expiration.

28
Q

Whats a restrictive lung disease?

A

Restriction of lung expansion

29
Q

NAme some obstructive lung diseases?

A

Asthma
COPD - Chronic bronchitis
- Emphysema

30
Q

What ahppens during a restrictive lung disorder?

A

The lung stiffens and has incomplete expansion

31
Q

Name some restrictive lung disorders?

A

Fibrosis
IRDS
Oedema
Pneumothorax

32
Q

What does asbestosis causes?

A

FIbrosis

33
Q

What are the two types of spirometry?

A

Static or dynamic

34
Q

Static spyrometry?

A

Only volume exhaled is measured

35
Q

Dynamic spirometry?

A

Volume & time exhaled is emasured.

36
Q

What values can be directly measuered by spirometry?

A

Tidal volume
Expiratory
Inspiratory capacity

37
Q

What values can be determined by spirometry?

A

Inspiratory reserve volume

Vital capacity

38
Q

What values cant be determined by spirometry?

A

Resiudal vlume

Functional residual capacity

39
Q

What is the nomral forced expiratory volume in 1 second?

A

4L (adult male)

40
Q

What is the normal forced vital capacity?

A

5L (adult male)

41
Q

Therefore what is normal FEV1/FVC

A

80% (adult male)

42
Q

How does an obstructive lun disease affect FEV1 & FVC?

A

FEV1 is massively reduced
FVC is only a little reduced
So FEV1:FVC drops

43
Q

How does a restrictive lung disease affect FEV1 & FVC?

A

Reduced both but affects FVC more. usually.

The % is often the same or higher than normal.

44
Q

What is FEF25-75?

A

The forced expiratory flow over the middle 50% of expiration

45
Q

How does FEF differ to FEV1?

A

It correlates with FEV1 but with more striking changes, hence it can indicate early sigsn of lung disease.
However FEF has a wider normal range