L21: Respiratory System II Flashcards
airway resistance
refers to the resistance of the entire system of airways in the respiratory tract
when resistance increases, ___
a larger pressure gradient is required to produce air flow
three parameters contributing to resistance
the system’s length, the viscosity, and the radius of tubes
resistance formula
R = (8Ln)/(pi*r^4)
in healthy lungs, resistance to air flow is __
low
why is resistance low in the conducting zone?
radii of tubes are large
why is resistance low in the respiratory zone?
extensive branching
factors affecting viscosity of air
humidity and altitude
factors affecting diameter of upper airways
physical obstruction by mucus or other objects
factors increasing diameter of bronchioles
carbon dioxide, epinephrine
factors decreasing diameter of bronchioles
parasympathetic neurons, histamine, leukotrienes
spirometry
a technique for measuring the volumes of inspired and expired air
how does spirometer work?
an individual breathes into and out of tube and transducer converts the volume of air to electrical signal
what lung volumes can be measured by spirometer?
tidal volume, inspiratory, expiratory reserve volumes
inspiratory reserve volume (IRV)
the maximum volume of air that can be inspired from the end of a normal inspiration
what’s the average IRV?
3000 mL
tidal volume (Vt)
the volume of air that moves into and out of the lungs doing a single, unforced breath
what’s average Vt?
500 mL
residual volume (RV)
the volume of air remaining in lungs following a maximal expiration
expiratory reserve volume (ERV)
the maximum volume of air that can be expired from the end of a normal expiration
what’s the average RV?
1200 mL
what’s the average ERV?
1000 mL
lung capacities
sums of two or more of the lung volumes
inspiratory capacity (IC)
Vt + IRV = 3500 mL
vital capacity (VC)
Vt + IRV + ERV = 4500 mL
functional residual capacity (FRC)
FRC = ERV + RV = 2200 mL
total lung capacity (TLC)
TLC = Vt + ERV + IRV + RV = 5700 mL
minute ventilation is ____ than alveolar ventilation because of ___
greater; dead space