Lecture 21 - Structure and Function of the Lung Flashcards
How do biochemists define respiration?
The metabolic process that utilizes O2 and produces CO2
How do physiologists define respiration?
The transport of O2 from air to the cells and CO2 from the cells to the air
How do single cellular organisms transport O2? What is this dependent on?
Simple diffusion with a gas moving from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure, dependent on surface area
How do large organisms transport O2? 3 components.
- Blood as a medium to carry O2
- Heart to pump blood
- Lung to be a component with a large surface area to exchange gas
What is the primary function of the lung?
Gas exchange
What are the 3 secondary functions of the lung?
- Metabolizes some compounds
- Filters unwanted material from the circulation and the air
- Acts as a reservoir of blood
What are the 2 types of respiratory failure?
- Hypoxia = not taking in enough O2 in lungs to bring to tissues
- Hypercapnia = not taking out enough CO2
What are the 2 ways in which the lung filters unwanted materials?
- From air like dust or fumes
2. From circulation like blood clots
Where do most blood clots occur? Why?
In venous system because higher chance of blood stagnation
What are the 4 stages of respiration in terms of O2? Describe each. Which ones are driven by diffusion?
- Stage I = ventilation = O2 from ambient air to alveolus
- ***Stage II = pulmonary gas exchange = diffusion of O2 at alveolar-capillary membrane
- Stage III = gas transport = O2 transported from capillaries to the peripheral capillaries by the circulation pump
- ***Stage IV = peripheral gas exchange = diffusion of O2 from the peripheral capillaries to the cells
What are the 4 stages of respiration in terms of CO2?
Same as for O2 but opposite order
What are the 2 types of systems of airways? Volume of each?
- Conductive system: 150 mL
2. Gas exchange system: 2.5-3 L
What are 2 other names for conduction airway?
- Anatomic dead space
2. Transitional zone
What are the 6 components of the conductive system of the airways? How many generations of bifurcations does this comprise?
- Nasopharynx
- Trachea
- Main bronchi
- Lobar bronchi
- Segmental bronchi
- Terminal bronchioles
First 16 generations
What are the 3 components of the gas exchange system of the airways? Do all of them have alveoli? How many generations of bifurcations does this comprise?
- Respiratory bronchioles
- Alveolar ducts
- Alveoli
YES, they all have alveoli
Last 7 generations
Difference between bronchi and bronchioles?
Presence of cartilaginous rings for support that is present in bronchi but absent in bronchioles
How do sherpa differ anatomically from other humans?
They have more lung aka more generations of airways
How many terminal bronchioles are there?
70,000
Generation number of bronchi?
1-3
Generation number of bronchioles?
4-15
Generation number of terminal bronchioles?
16
Generation number of respiratory bronchioles?
17-19
Generation number of alveolar ducts?
20-22
Generation number of alveolar sacs?
23
Generation number of alveolar sacs?
23
What are the acini?
The airway generations distal to the bronchioles:
- Respiratory bronchioles
- Alveolar ducts
- Alveoli
How does the cross-sectional area of each subsequent generation of branches differ from the previous generation?
Cross-sectional area is greater once we pass the 4th generation - it doubles with each generation
Which cross-sectional area is greater: that of the respiratory zone or the conducting zone?
The respiratory zone cross-sectional area
Which airway generation is the narrowest aka has the smallest cross-sectional area?
4th
In which portion of the airways is the composition of O2 and CO2 homogenous?
The respiratory zone
What happens during inspiration?
Diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract to expand the thoracic cavity => negative pressure in the chest => causes the air to travel through the conducting zone via bulk flow => once the air reaches the respiratory zone, there is no more bulk flow due to the huge increase in cross sectional area => forward velocity of gas becomes slow => diffusion becomes the dominant mechanism of ventilation
What is compliance?
Amount of pressure required to bring a certain volume change
What does it mean for a structure to be very compliant?
Little pressure is required to change the volume of the structure
What does it mean for a structure to be noncompliant?
A lot of pressure is required to change the volume of the structure