Chapter 3 Flashcards
What is alveolar ventilation?
The exchange of gas between the alveoli and the external environment.
How is alveolar ventilation defined?
As the volume of fresh air entering the alveoli per minute.
What factors influence lung volume?
The mechanics of the lungs and chest wall, and the activity of the muscles of inspiration and expiration.
What are the standard lung volumes?
Four standard lung volumes: Tidal Volume (VT), Residual Volume (RV), Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV), Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV).
What is tidal volume (VT)?
The volume of air entering or leaving the nose or mouth per breath.
What is the typical tidal volume for a 70-kg adult?
About 500 mL per breath.
What is residual volume (RV)?
The volume of gas left in the lungs after a maximal forced expiration.
What is the typical residual volume for a healthy 70-kg adult?
About 1.5 L.
What is expiratory reserve volume (ERV)?
The volume of gas expelled during a maximal forced expiration following a normal tidal expiration.
What is the typical expiratory reserve volume for a healthy 70-kg adult?
About 1.5 L.
What is inspiratory reserve volume (IRV)?
The volume of gas inhaled during a maximal forced inspiration starting at the end of a normal tidal inspiration.
What is the typical inspiratory reserve volume for a healthy 70-kg adult?
About 2.5 L.
What is functional residual capacity (FRC)?
The volume of gas remaining in the lungs at the end of a normal tidal expiration.
What is the typical functional residual capacity for a healthy 70-kg adult?
About 3 L.
What is inspiratory capacity (IC)?
The volume of air inhaled during a maximal inspiratory effort starting at the end of a normal tidal expiration.
What is the typical inspiratory capacity for a healthy 70-kg adult?
About 3 L.
What is total lung capacity (TLC)?
The volume of air in the lungs after a maximal inspiratory effort.
What is the typical total lung capacity for a healthy 70-kg adult?
About 6 L.
What is vital capacity (VC)?
The volume of air expelled from the lungs during a maximal forced expiration following a maximal forced inspiration.
What is the typical vital capacity for a healthy 70-kg adult?
About 4.5 L.
What is the significance of measuring lung volumes?
It helps in diagnosing pathologic states and understanding normal physiological variations.
What happens to functional residual capacity (FRC) when changing from standing to supine?
FRC decreases.
What lung volumes cannot be measured with a spirometer?
Residual Volume (RV), Functional Residual Capacity (FRC), Total Lung Capacity (TLC).
What is the nitrogen-washout technique used for?
To determine lung volumes not measurable with spirometry.
What does the helium-dilution technique measure?
Lung volume by measuring the concentration of helium in the lungs.
Fill in the blank: The tidal volume (VT) is about ______ for a healthy 70-kg adult.
500 mL
Fill in the blank: The residual volume (RV) is about ______ for a healthy 70-kg adult.
1.5 L
True or False: The total lung capacity (TLC) is the sum of all four lung volumes.
True
Fill in the blank: The vital capacity (VC) is approximately ______ for a healthy 70-kg adult.
4.5 L
What is the formula to calculate the amount of solute?
Amount of solute(mg) = concentration of solute(mg/mL) × volume of solvent(mL)
This formula allows for the determination of solute quantity based on its concentration and the volume of solvent used.
What technique uses helium to determine lung volume?
Helium-dilution technique
Helium is used due to its low solubility in body tissues and its inability to diffuse out of blood.
Why is helium used in the helium-dilution technique?
Helium is not taken up by pulmonary capillary blood and does not diffuse out of the blood
This ensures that the total amount of helium remains constant during the test.
What happens during the helium-dilution test?
The helium concentration is monitored until it equilibrates between the lungs and the spirometer
The test concludes at the end of a normal tidal expiration.
What does FRC stand for?
Functional Residual Capacity
FRC is the volume of air remaining in the lungs after a normal tidal expiration.
How is FRC calculated in the helium-dilution technique?
FHEtVspi = FHEf (Vspf + VLf)
FHE represents the fractional concentration of helium, Vspi is the initial volume of the spirometer, and VLf is the lung volume at the end of the test.
What is a limitation of the nitrogen-washout and helium-dilution techniques?
Neither can measure trapped gas in the lungs
Trapped gas cannot be washed out or equilibrated due to closed airways.
What principle does body plethysmography use?
Boyle’s law
Boyle’s law states that pressure times volume is constant for a closed container at a constant temperature.
What equipment is used in body plethysmography?
An airtight chamber, pressure transducers, pneumotachograph
These components measure airflow and pressure changes during breathing.
What occurs during the plethysmography test?
The operator occludes the subject’s airway at end expiration, allowing measurement of FRC
This is done by observing pressure changes in the plethysmograph.
Define anatomic dead space.
The volume of the conducting airways where no gas exchange occurs
This volume corresponds to the conducting zone of the respiratory system.
How is the volume of gas entering the alveoli calculated?
VA = VT - VD
VA is the volume of gas reaching the alveoli, VT is the tidal volume, and VD is the dead space volume.
What is the relationship between minute volume and alveolar ventilation?
VA = VE - VD
VE is the minute volume and VD is the volume wasted in dead space.
What is the formula to calculate alveolar ventilation per minute?
n(VA) = n(VT) - n(VD)
n represents the breathing frequency in breaths per minute.