L6 - Pulmonary function testing Flashcards
FEV1
Forced expiratory volume in 1 second
FVC
Forced vital capacity.
Total vol forcefully expired from max inspiration efforts
What might a low FEV1/FVC ratio indicate?
Obstructive pattern: Asthma, emphysema
What might a normal value of FEV1/FVC indicate?
Restrictive or a normal pattern
If the FEV1/FVC is normal but the FVC is low what might this show?
Restrictive pattern
Signs of lung disease
Cough Dyspnea Cyanosis Wheezing Hyperinflation of lungs Hypoxemia Hyperapnia
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath
Hypoxemia
Abnormally low level of oxygen in blood
Hypercapnia
Abnormally elevated level of carbon dioxide.
Spirometry
Measurement of air movement in and out of lungs during various respiratory maneuver’s
How might anaemia affect the lungs?
- Number of haemoglobin molecules reduced.
- Decreased ability of lung to transfer carbon monoxide to blood (experiment)
- Lower diffusion capacity
Examples of conditions which decrease the surface area of the alveolar capillary membrane
Emphysema - breathing tubes narrowed and air sacs damaged.
Pulmonary embolism.
Conditions altering membrane permeability / thickness?
Pulmonary fibrosis
Why is carbon monoxide used to test diffusion capacity?
More soluble in blood than in lung tissue.
What are extraparenchymal causes of restriction? (4)
Impairs patients ability to fully inflate lungs:
- Obesity
- Neuromuscular disease
- Chest wall deformities
- Large pleural effusion
Describe quiet respiration pathophys
- Diaphragm contracts.
- Moves downwards.
- Parietal pleura attached to diaphragm descends.
- Movement pulls down visceral pleura.
- Airway and alveoli expand.
- Air sucked into lungs.
What occurs during expiration?
- Diaphragm relaxes
- Recoil of elastic tissue in lungs expels air from alveoli and airways.
Describe the use of accessory muscles during forced respiration?
- Neck muscles pull ribcage upwards.
- Sternocleidomastoid elevates sternum.
- Scalenus major and minor elevate first two ribs and sternum.
Which muscles pull the ribcage downwards?
- Oblique.
- Transverse.
- Rectus abdominus.
Which muscles fix shoulder girdle in place and pull ribcage outwards?
Pectoralis major.
Latissimus Dorsi.
Describe innervation of diaphragm?
motor and sensory supply
C3,4,5 keeps diaphragm alive
- Motor supply: via Left and right phrenic nerves.
- Sensory supply:
- Central : Phrenic
- Peripheral: Intercostal