CVS Session 8 Flashcards
What does the bronchial circulation do?
Part of systemic circulation that meets metabolic requirements of the lungs
What are the two circulations of the lungs?
Bronchial
Pulmonary
What does the pulmonary circulation do?
Blood supply to alveoli required for gas exchange
Why just the pulmonary circulation accept the entire cardiac output?
It is in series w/ the systemic circulation
What is the maximum cardiac output for a non-athlete?
20-25 l per minute
Why does the pulmonary circulation work with low pressure and resistance?
High number of branching capillaries giving lots of parallel branches
What are the typical mean arterial, capillary and venous pressures?
Arterial = 12-15 mmHg Capillary = 9-12 mmHg Venous = 5 mmHg
How does the amount of smooth muscle in the arterioles in the pulmonary circulation compare to that in the systemic?
Relatively little
How is low resistance achieved in the pulmonary circulation?
Short, wide vessels
Lots of breaching capillaries
Arterioles with little smooth muscle
What is the combined endothelium and epithelium thickness separating the gas phase from plasma in the pulmonary circulation?
~0.3 micrometers
Why does pulmonary oedema tend to accumulate in the lower part of the lung?
In orthostatsis gravity causes increased hydrostatic pressure on vessels in this part
What must oxygen and carbon dioxide pass through to reach an erythrocyte?
Type 1 pneumocyte –> basement membrane –> endothelial cell –> erythrocyte
Compare the lumen of vessels in the lungs closest to the apex level, closest to the heart level and closest to the base level.
Nearest apex = collapse during diastole
Nearest heart = continuously patent
Nearest base = vessels distended
Why is the diastolic pressure in the pulmonary artery higher than in the right atrium?
Elastic recoil of the artery
What is needed for efficient oxygenation?
Matching of ventilation of alveoli w/their perfusion
Air in/out matched w/bloodflow in same site in lungs
How is the ventilation-perfusion ratio maintained?
Divert blood from alveoli that are not well ventilated to those that are
What is the optimal ventilation-perfusion ratio?
0.8
What can cause decreased alveoli ventilation?
Mucus plug
Fluid build up
What can cause chronic hypoxia?
Altitude
Lung disease e.g. emphysema
How does hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction lead to right sided heart failure?
Alveolar hypoxia –> vasoconstriction –> becomes chronic and widespread –> chronic pulmonary hypertension –> high workload on R ventricle –> R ventricular hypertrophy –> R sided heart failure
What is the effect of exercise in pulmonary blood flow?
Increased cardiac output –> small increase in pulmonary arterial pressure –> apical capillaries open –> increased oxygen uptake –> capillary transit time decreases
What does opening of the apical capillaries help to achieve during exercise?
Matching of ventilation-perfusion ratio
What range can the capillary transit time lie within?
~1 s at rest to ~0.3 s w/out compromising gas exchange
What determines formation of tissue fluid?
Starling forces
How do the Starling forces determine tissue fluid formation?
Hydrostatic pressure of blood in capillary pushes fluid out
Oncotic pressure/ colloid osmotic pressure draws fluid in to capillaries
What influences capillary hydrostatic pressure more in the systemic circulation?
Venous pressure
Will hypertension cause peripheral oedema?
No
Why does pulmonary oedema accumulate throughout the lungs when lying down?
Capillaries throughout lung become distended
What is the treatment plan for pulmonary oedema?
Diuretics to treat symptoms and treat the underlying cause
What does pulmonary oedema impair?
Gas exchange
What minimises formation of lung lymph so that it remains at a level that can be dealt with and does not become pulmonary oedema
Low capillary pressure
How does the oncotic pressure of tissue fluid in the lungs compare to that in the periphery?
Greater than in periphery
How does capillary hydrostatic pressure in lung compare to that in the systemic capillaries?
It is lower
What changes in the heart lead to pulmonary oedema?
Mitral valve stenosis or left ventricular failure causing left atrial pressure to rise to 20-25 mmHg
How does the plasma oncotic pressure compare in the lungs and systemic circulation?
It is equal
How does the percentage of cardiac output received by the brain compare to its mass?
Receives ~15% of cardiac output but only account for ~2% of body mass