8.3 Respiratory physiology Flashcards
Total ventilation (at rest)
6 L/min
Respiratory dead space:
volume of air that is inhaled that does not take part in the gas exchange.
Concept of partial pressure
In a mixture of gases, each constituent gas has a partial pressure which is the notional pressure of that constituent gas if it alone occupied the entire volume of the original mixture at the same temperature.
Resting oxygen consumption:
250ml/min (max= 3L/min)
Resting carbon dioxide production
200ml/min
Alveolar ventilation (at rest)
4L/min
What are normal alveolar partial pressures of oxygen (PAO2) and carbon dioxide(PACO2)?
close to normal arterial values.
PaO2=90 mm Hg [12kPa] (range 80-100mmHg [11-13 kPa])
PaCO2=40 mm Hg [5.3kPa] (range 35-45mmHg [4-6 kPa])
Negativity of intra-pleural pressure:
At FRC, rib cage has a natural tendency to spring upwards and lungs have intrinsic tendency to collapse. The 2 effects are balanced and generate a negative intrapleural pressure (mean~-6cmH2O).
Compliance=
Change in volume/ change in pressure
Surfactant.
Important in lowering surface tension.
What is functional residual capacity?
volume left after normal tidal volume.
Concept of surface tension
Lungs can be inflated much easier with liquid than gas. Inflating with saline means you remove all air-liquid interfaces and you get rid of surface tension, meaning lungs are much easier to inflate.
Pneumothorax
Pleural space fills with air and lungs collapse.
What does turbulence of airflow lead to?
wheeze
2 types of flow:
1) Laminar- Poiseuille’s, orderly, flow∝ pressure
2) Turbulent- fast velocity of blood. Suboptimal because in order to double flow need to more than double pressure. Flow∝ root (pressure)
Peak expiratory flow and its measurement.
a person’s maximum speed of expiration, as measured with a peak flow meter, a small, hand-held device.
Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)
volume of air exhaled in the first second during forced exhalation after maximal inspiration. Normally, at least 80% of the forced vital capacity (FVC) is exhaled.
Examples of pathologies affecting airways resistance:
e.g. asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema & chronic bronchitis).
Poiseuille’s Law
Ventilation= [(πr^4)/(8nl)]×change in pressure
n=viscosity, l=length of tube
Emphysema
Low lung elasticity gives poor airway support and easy collapse. Airways withstand less of a transmural gradient before they collapse.
Concept of diffusion and of the diffusing capacity of the lung.
the transfer of gas from air in the lung, to the red blood cells in lung blood vessels. A bigger diffusing capacity means equilibration is more likely.
Fick’s law of diffusion:
Flux=d×(A/Δx)×(c1-c2)
d=diffusion constant
x= distance
A=area
Concept of diffusion and of the diffusing capacity of the lung.
the transfer of gas from air in the lung, to the red blood cells in lung blood vessels. A bigger diffusing capacity means equilibration is more likely. (depends on solubility of gas in blood and speed of chemical reaction with blood).
Examples of pathologies affecting diffusion:
e.g. pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary oedema, emphysema.