L16 Flashcards
both Pulmonary Fibrosis and Pulmonary Hypertension increase dead space. which one increases functional dead space and which anatomical
Pulmonary Fibrosis = anatomical
Pulmonary Hypertension = functional
when you take fast shallow breaths what happens
We are breathing fast but we are reducing the tidal volume but the dead space will be the same therefore alveoli ventilation is significantly decreased
How does gas move from alveoli to capillary
Gases move across the alveolar capillary membrane
by Diffusion
what are different names from the barrier between the alveoli and the capillaries
- air-blood barrier
- blood-gas barrier
- alveocapillary membrane
what makes up the air blood barrier
airspace
- alveolar epithelial cell (type 1)
- basement membrane
- endothelial cell
blood
what does Ficks law of diffusion explain
Explains gas exchange through the membranes
what is the ficks law equation
F = (A/T) x D (P1-P2)
• Where: F = Flux (Amount flowing) A = surface area T = thickness D = Diffusion constant P1-P2 = pressure difference
what is the diffusion constant
how hard it is to get through the membrane
it is a constant therefore it is very constant across the membranes
what is Grahams Law
diffusion depends on gas solubility (S) and its molecular weight
what is more soluable O2 or CO2
• On a per-molecule basis, CO2 diffuses about 20x faster
than O2 due to CO2 higher solubility.
CO2 = 20x more soluable
what do you know about the surface area of the lungs
it is about 1/2 a tennis court
Usually area is huge so it doesn’t affect diffusion until you have obstructive lung disease
what is Emphysema
Emphysema is a disease characterized by dilation of the alveolar spaces and destruction of the alveolar walls.
There is a decrease in the surface area of the lung (A) in emphysema. what effect does this have on blood PO2
Fick’s law helps understand why patients with emphysema have
decreased PO2 in blood
decrease in A = decrease in F
in healthy lungs the Blood-gas barrier (air-blood barrier) in the lung is enormous, and the thin
how thin is it
0.3µm in many places
Therefore the thickness is not going to effects the diffusion in healthy individuals
what is Pulmonary fibrosis
involves thickening and scarring of the alveolar membranes