Cardiorespiratory Flashcards
Define external and internal respiration.
External - the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the external environment and cells of the body.
Internal - intracellular metabolic processes carried out in mitochondria, using oxygen in oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP and carbon dioxide.
Describe the movement of the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles on inspiration and expiration.
Inspiration: Both contract to flatten diaphragm and move ribs upwards and outwards to increase thoracic volume.
Expiration: both relax to dome out diaphragm and let ribs fall inwards and downwards to decrease thoracic volume.
What is the respiratory system’s response to increased exercise?
More oxygen demand so rate of inhalations and exhalations increases and amplitude of ventilation increases.
Explain the partial pressures of alveolar gas composition.
At lungs: ppO2 = 150 mmHg, ppCO2 = 0.3 mmHg, ppH2O(g) = 47 mmHg
At alveoli: ppO2 = 100 mmHg, ppCO2 = 40 mmHg
What are the properties of the airways?
Diameter is inversely proportional to resistance.
Diameter is controlled by contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle via ANS.
Bulk of resistance decreases down bronchial tree despite decreasing diameter due to frequency/net surface area of each airway class increasing.
Define conducting zone and respiratory zone.
Conducting zone - permits the movement of air in and out of the lungs.
Respiratory zone - the sit of gas exchange.
What is dead space volume?
The volume contained in the conducting zone that does not support gas exchange.
What is tidal volume?
The volume of air expired with each breath.
What is the respiratory rate?
Number of breaths per minute.
What is the minute ventilation?
Minute ventilation = tidal volume x respiration rate
Ve = Vt x RR
What is the alveolar ventilation?
Alveolar ventilation = (tidal volume - dead space volume) x respiration rate
Va = (Vt - Vd) x RR
Describe the necessary pressure changes for inspiration and expiration.
Inspiration - thoracic pressure is less than atmospheric pressure
Expiration - thoracic pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure
Which muscles are recruited for inspiration and expiration?
Inspiration - accessory inspiratory muscles, scalene and sternomastoid muscles.
Expiration - if forced expiration, other abdominal muscles.
Name the 4 pressures to consider in the breathing cycle.
Barometric/atmospheric
Intra-alveolar
Intrapleural
Transmural - difference in pressure between intra-alveolar and intrapleural
What is the intrapleural pressure?
Outward force = recoil of chest
Inward force = recoil of elastic lungs
Forces are balanced and act on intrapleural fluid, but must be a negative pressure for this to happen.
From a spirometer and vitalograph, what is the expiratory reserve volume, inspiratory reserve volumes, the vital capacity and the functional residual capacity?
Expiratory reserve volume - the maximum volume that can be exhaled after a normal, quiet exhalation.
Inspiratory reserve volume - the maximum volume that can be inhaled after a normal, quiet inhalation.
Vital capacity - largest volume that can be in the lungs, where capacity is the sum of 2 or more volumes.
Functional residual capacity - volume remaining at the end of normal expiration.
What are the properties of lung elasticity?
Inspiration - lungs must expand when stretched, which is aided by high compliance.
Expiration - lungs must collapse when stretch force is removed, aided by elasticity.
What is elasticity?
Comes from elastin fibres. Elasticity reduces resistance and vascular resistance in the pulmonary system.
Name a disease that reduces lung elasticity.
Emphysema - loss of elastic tissue. Easier to stretch with increased compliance.
Name 3 diseases that reduce lung compliance.
Fibrosis, pulmonary oedema and surfactant deficiency all cause decreased compliance.
Define surface tension.
The molecules in a liquid have an affinity for one another. Forces between fluid molecules cause the surface of the liquid to act like an elastic sheet. Alveoli have fluid surface so have surface tension.
What is the function of surfactant?
Is a phospholipid dissolved in alveolar fluid that reduces surface tension.
What cells produce surfactant?
Type 2 pneumocytes
What is the physiological significance of lung surfactant?
Released in inspiration and as alveoli get smaller, it becomes concentrated in the fluid. It increases pulmonary compliance and reduces work of inflating lungs.
How does surfactant reduce atelectasis?
Reduces lung recoil and alveolar collapse (atelectasis) is less likely.
Describe airflow in airways.
Airway resistance must be overcome by the action of inspiratory muscles that creates alveolar pressure gradient.
Airflow = pressure gradient / airway resistance
Name 4 diseases where airway resistance is increased.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, such as bronchitis and emphysema - chronic, long lasting airway resistance.
Oedema - fluid restricted airflow.
Asthma - increased constriction of bronchiole smooth muscle, increased mucus secretion and inflammation.
Describe the physical factors affecting airway diameter and resistance.
As lung volume increases, resistance decreases because lungs stretch in filling ad forces on small airways help pull them open and reduce resistance via radial tension.
Describe the effect of ANS on airway resistance and resistance.
Sympathetic nervous system will increase broncho tone and constrict broncho vessels. Acetylcholine released, activating muscarinic receptors to cause bronchoconstriction. During stress and exercise, sympathetic nervous system releases adrenaline, which acts on beta-2 receptors to cause broncho dilation.
Describe the effect of the Hering-Breuer inflation reflex on bronchial diameter.
Stretch receptors stimulated upon inflation, firing vagal afferents to medullary respiratory centre. Sympathetic efferents cause bronchodilation.
Which diseases increase lung compliance?
Larger lung volume achieved for same pressure with obstructive diseases, causing impaired expiration. Such as asthma, COPD and bronchieactasis.
What diseases cause decreased lung compliance?
Smaller lung volume for same pressure due to impaired inspiration in restrictive diseases. Such as pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial disease and repeated infection.
Link anatomical and physiological dead space.
Physiological dead spcae = anatomical dead space + alveolar dead space
In health, physiological dead space = anatomical dead space
Describe measuring lung volume with a spirometer and vitalograph.
Detects changes in tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume and expiratory reserve volume to produce a vitalograph.