Lecture 1: Pulmonary Physiology (Mechanism of Breathing/Lung Volumes) Flashcards
List the 3 things pertaining to the anatomy of the lungs that make it unique
- The lungs even in close confines of the chest cavity allow diffusion because it maximizes the surface area of airways (conducting zone), alveoli (respiratory zone) & pulmonary capillaries
- Close association b/w alveoli & pulmonary capillaries (=short diffusion distances of O2 & CO2 at alveolar-capillary membrane)
- 1&2 helps maximize gas exchange of O2 & CO2 at the alveolar-capillary membrane within the closed cavity (V-dot O2&V-dotCO2)
V-dotO2: Volume of O2 in ml and the rate its inhaled
V-dotCO2: Volume of CO2 in ml and the rate its exhaled
What is the main role of the respiratory muscles?
Force, displacement
What occurs due to the interaction of the respiratory muscles and lung & chest wall?
Interaction brings air in and out of the lungs which allows for gas exchange to occur (Ventilation)
Decrease ventilation:
Increase ventilation:
Decrease ventilation: increase CO2
Increase ventilation: decrease CO2
What do these symbols stand for concerning the lung?
- C
- F
- P
- Q
- Q-dot
- R
- S
- V
- V-dot
- C=concencentration of gas in the blood
- F=Fractional concentration in dry gas
- P=Pressure or partial pressure (fractional [ ] x Atmospheric pressure)
- Q= Volume of Blood
- Q-dot=Volume of blood per unit time (rate)
- R=Respiratory exchange ratio
- S=Saturation of hemoglobin with O2
- V=Volume of gas
- V-dot=Volume of gas per unit time (rate)
What phases does capital sunscript and lowercase subscript represent?
- Capital subscript: Gas Phase
- Lowercase subscript: Blood Phase
What are these symbols measuring?
- V(A)
- V(T)
- V(D)
- V(A)=Alevolar volume (ml or L) of gas in alveoli
- V(T)= Tidal volume (ml or L): volume of air you inhale or exhale
- V(D)=Dead space volume
All gas phase measurements
What are these symbols measuring?
- P(A)O2
- P(a)O2
- P(v)O2
- P(E)CO2
- P(A)O2=Partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli
- P(a)O2=Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood
- P(v)O2=Partial pressure of oxygen in venous blood
- P(E)O2= Partial pressure of CO2 in the End Title
End Title= Expired breath (air coming out of you)
What is the general pathway of air entering the lungs?
Air flows into the trachea–>divides into 2 zones—>the 2 zones divide into 2 more zones—>zones keep dividing
What is each divison of the lung starting from the trachea called?
Zones
Explain the Dichotomous Branching airways
- Multiple airways conduction down to deeper parts of the lung including the Conducting Zone and Respiratory Zone
Dichotomous: each branch divides into 2 divisions
What are the Conduction Zones? and what are their special features?
- Zones (generations) 0-16
- No alveoli
What is the Funtion of the Conducting Zone (Z-16)?
To lead air into the gas exchane areas (Z17-23)
What happens in Zones 0-16 d/t the presence of NO alveoli?
NO gas exchange
What zones are the terminal bronchioles?
Z5-16
What are the terminal bronchioles (Z5-16)?
The smallest conducting airways w/out alveoli
How does air flow in the Conduction zone (Z0-16)?
Bulk Flow (pressure gradient) via Boyle’s Law
The nose and mouth drive air into the body
What is the relationship b/w pressure and volume as explained w/ Boyle’s Law?
- As volume increases, pressure decreases
- As volume decreases, pressure increases
What is the equation that helps explain bulk flow?
V-dot ⍺ 𝚫P/Raw
Explain the relationships of the bulk flow equation
V-dot ⍺ 𝚫P/Raw
- V-dot is directly related to 𝚫P and inversely related to Raw
- V-dot: volume of gas per unit time (airflow in)
- 𝚫P: Change in pressure gradient (from nose & mouth down the the terminal bronchioles)
- Raw: Airway Resistance
What is the equation for 𝚫P in bulk flow?
𝚫P=change in pressure
- 𝚫P=P(B)-Pairway
- P(B)= barometric pressure (or atmospheric pressure) in the room
- Pairway= pressure in the airway
What are the Respiratory Zones and explain their function?
- Zone 17-23, Increased surface area
- Contains Alveoli
- Function: where gas exhange occur
What is the composition of air in the Respiratory Zones (Z17-23)?
The air inhaled, mixed w/ residual gas from the previous breath
How does air flow in the Respiratory Zones (Z17-23)?
Diffusion
What drives diffusion in the respiratory zones (Z17-23)?
Partial pressure gradient of O2 and CO2
How are O2 and CO2 transported by diffusion in the Respiratory Zones (Z17-23)?
- Partial pressure gradient will drive diffusion of O2 into the alveoli which then is transported to the blood
- Partial pressure gradient will drive diffusion of CO2 in the opposite direction. Higher in the blood coming to the lungs from the veins→diffuse into alveoli then exhaled
What is the graph below showing?
The Increaing Total Cross Sectional Area (cm3) from the Conducting Zone (Z0-16) to the Respiratory Zone (Z17-23)
What causes the increasing total surface area from the conducting zone to the respiratory zone?
Branches begin to run parallel to each other which increases surface area in terms of airspace
R(aw) greater when breathing through?
R(aw)=resistance of airway
Nose
What is a major site of R(aw)?
Large airways > 2mm
What is this graph below showing?
- Resistance: Increasing initially as branches narrow for Z0-5.
- Z6 branches begin run parallel to each which increases surface area
- Increase in surface area causes a large drop in resistance (d/t brances adding up as the inverse: 1/Rtotal= 1/R1+1/R2+…)
What is the highest resistance zone?
Z5
What zones are the problem areas for diseases like asthma and bronchitis?
Z0-5 where resistance is increasing since the branches are narrow and NOT parallel
What happens with the volume of the thoracic cavity when the diaphragm contracts?And the outcome of that?
Volume of thoracic cavity increase thus sucking air into it so the alveoli expanding and expanding each other
What are alveoli?
Air sacs in the lung that allow for gas exchange
What is the thin wall surrounding alveoli made of? And what is the function?
- Pulmonary capillaries
- Function: facilate O2 uptake by RBCs and CO2 offloading from the blood into the alveoli
What lines each of the alveoli and what does it form?
A fluid that mix with air to form surface tension
What does the surface tension try to do to the alveoli and what is the outcome?
Surface tension is trying to squeeze the cell in and have it collapse to a smaller volume and the counterinteraction with the air in the alveoli gives the lungs it elasticity
What gives the lungs its elasticity?
Surface tension (fluid+air)
What cell in the alveoli is involved with surface tension and what does it do?
Type II (surfactant-secreting) cell which decreases surface tension
What happens when you increase fluid too much?
The membrane becomes more thicker and you decrease in O2 diffusion since there is a bigger gap between the pulmonary capillaries and the air sac
Why would a premature baby lungs have no elasticity?
A premature baby will have a lack of Type II cells which secrete surfactant. A lack of surfactant will increase the surface tension
What are the mechnical aspects of breathing or in other words how does the pulmonary pump occur?
HIGH yield
- A change in the cross-sectional dimensions of the thoracic cavity (via contraction of respiratory muscles) are transmitted to the lungs
- Boyle’s law which states: that lung volume increases and alveolar pressure decreases during inspiration. And during expiration lung volume decreases and alveolar pressure increases
- Air enters the upper airway by bluk flow (air flows from higher to lower pressure: ↓P=↑air)
What is the main muscle for breathing (inspiration) and what innervates it?
The Diaphragm innervated by the Phrenic nerve (C3,4&5)
What is the term for at rest breathing?
Euphea
What are the accesory muscles for Inspiration?
- External Intercostals (most important)
- Sternocleidomastids
- Trapezius
- Scalenus
What is happening to the Diaphragm (inspiratory muscle) when you breathe in?
- Diaphragm: Contracts and drops down, lung adheres to the diaphragm and pull down too which increases volume and decreases pressure
What is happening to the External Intercostal (inspiratory muscle) when you breath in?
- External Intercostals: Causes a “bucket-handle rotation” which pulls ribs up and out to further pull out the lungs to decrease pressure which makes a larger pressure gradient to drive more air into the lungs to increase breath rate.
When are the muscles Sternocleidomastids, Trapezius and Scalenus used in inspiration and explain there function?
- Only used on really high rates of breathing
- Function: Pull upper part of ribcage up to allow lungs to pull further out
What are muscles for Expiration? and what innervates them?
- Interal Intercostal (most important)
- Rectus Abdominus
- External Oblique
- Interal Oblique
- Transversus Abdominus
- Innervated by motor neurons
What is happening to the Internal Intercostals during Expiration?
They contract and pull the ribs back in which squeezes the gas in the lungs. This causes a increase in pressure and decrease in volume so more air can be pushed out
When are the abdominal muscles (Rectus Abdominus, External Oblique, Interal Oblique andTransversus Abdominus) used in expiration?
Used for Forced Expiration (e.g. Heimlich Maneuver)
What is the mechanism of the Abdominal expiratory muscles?
- When these muscles are contracted, increases the pressure in the lungs greatly.
- Mainly used in forced expiration
Abdominal muscles: Rectus Abdominus, External Oblique, Interal Oblique and Transversus Abdominus
Describe the action of the abdominal muscles during a Heimlich Manuever
When something is stuck in airway, push into the abdominal muscles. That force pushes the organs and diaphram up into the lungs. This cause volume to decrease and pressure to increase (Forced expiration)
Abdominal muscles: Rectus Abdominus, External Oblique, Interal Oblique and Transversus Abdominus
Expiration is usually ____________ during resting breathing (a.k.a. eupnea or eupheic ventilation)
Passive
Inspiration is an _________, because we have to do ________.
- Active Process
- Work
What work is done during inspiration?
Actively contract the respirtory muscles to generate the pressure gradient b/w the nose, mouth and airway, also across the wall of the lungs
When are expiratory muscles active?
NOTE: Expiratory muscles are normally passive
- During increased ventilation
- Expulsive maneuvers
- In patients with lung diseases