Asthma Lab Flashcards
What does Boyle’s Law state?
Pressure and volume are inversely proportional
What happens during inhalation that allows air to flow into the lungs?
The lung volume increases and intrapulmonary pressure drops below atmospheric pressure
What happens during exhalation that forces air out of the lungs?
Lung volume decreases, which raises intrapulmonary pressure above atmospheric pressure
Where is airway resistance the highest and why?
In medium sized bronchi
This is because a small airway has greater resistance than a large airway, but there are so many more small airways than larger ones
What is compliance?
The ability of lungs to expand
What is alveolar surface tension?
The force that can cause alveoli to collapse, surfactant helps with this reducing tension and keeping alveoli open
What is airway resistance?
Resistance to airflow in airways
Asthma - Bronchioles constricting and higher airway resistance
When someone is having asthma problems what needs to happen to the intrapulmonary pressure?
Inhalation- IP needs to decrease to move air in
Exhalation - IP needs to increase to move air out against high resistance
What should be the values of FEV1 and FVC?
Higher than 80%
Why is Mikes Values low?
He can’t generate enough intrapulmonary pressure to make up for the excessive resistance
What does an inhaler do in terms of asthma?
It smoothes the tissues of bronchioles and allows for dilation of bronchioles and bronchi, which eliminated coughing and sneezing
