Lungs Flashcards
what is Boyles law?
at a constant pressure and number of gas molecules the pressure is inversely proportional to the size of the container
what is Daltons law?
in a dry mixture each gas exerts a partial pressure equal to it fractional share of the volume
why does the P02 decrease at higher altitudes?
although it is still 21% of the composition of air, the pressure of the air has decreased so its 21% of a smaller pressure
at body temperature what is the PH20?
6KPa
what is the intrapleural pressure at FRC?
-0.5Kpa
what is the equation for distending pressure?
Pdist = Pin -P out
how is thoracic volume increased?
diaphragm contracts
external intercostal muscle contract pushing the rib cage up and out
sternocleidomastoid muscle contract moving the sternum up an out
how is thoracic volume actively decreased?
internal intercostal muscles pull the rib cage down and in
abdominal muscles contract forcing the diaphragm up
what areas consist of anatomic dead space?
conducting zones
how much alveoli dead space do healthy individuals have?
zero
what is the average size of anatomic dead space?
150ml
what is physiological dead space?
anatomic plus alveoli dead space
what 2 components are needed for gas exchange?
ventilation and perfusion
what is the equation for flow in relation to the lungs?
flow = area x velocity
why does velocity decrease down the airway generation?
total cross sectional area increases (also resistance)
why do alveoli only appear from generation 17?
because velocity has slowed to the rate of diffusion therefore gas exchange
what is the average tidal volume?
500ml
what ventilation needs to be matched to meet metabolic demand?
Alveoli ventilation
how must alveoli gas composition be maintained?
by matching ventilation to rate of blood flow which is determined by metabolism
why is the lung distending pressure +5KPa in terms of lung compliance?
this lung volume is when lungs are most compliant and easiest to distend
how would you measure lung distending pressure?
take oesophageal pressure which is the same as pleural pressure
assume alveoli pressure is 0
then take oesophageal pressure from alveoli pressure
what 2 factors determine compliance?
stretchiness of the tissue e.g. elastin and collagen ratio
surface tension at air water interfaces (force trying to collapse the alveoli)
what is the equation for pressure involving surface tension?
P=2T (surface T) / radius
what driving force does surface tension contribute to?
Lung elastic recoil provides 2/3 which allows passive expiration
what would loss on surface tension do to compliance?
increase compliance
what are the functions of surfactant?
detergent (phospholipid) that reduces surface tension of alveoli preventing their collapse
and increasing their compliance allowing lung expansion
also keeps lungs dry and prevents oedema from sucking fluid out of the capillaries
how does surfactant exhibit an area dependant effect on alveoli?
the same amount of surfactant is present on each alveoli
this results in them being closer together on smaller alveoli exhibiting a larger effect and overcoming the greater pressure on these smaller alveoli
why do premature babies suffer alveoli collapse?
their type II pneumocytes have not matured enough to produce surfactant
this increases surface tension, decreasing compliance = alveoli collapse / poor lung expansion
how can premature babies surfactant production be promoted?
steroids promote it, baby can be put on a ventilator
what determines FRC?
Compliance of Lungs and Chest wall
how and why does intrapleural pressure change from the top to the bottom of the lungs?
at the top of the lungs intrapleural pressure is the most negative because the force of the lungs being pulled down from gravity creates extra tension
the bottom of the lungs gravity is acting less, less tension = more positive intrapleural pressure
how and why does distending pressure change from the top to the bottom of the lungs?
because of the more negative intrapleural pressure at the top of the lungs, distending pressure is higher at FRC
meaning the alveoli have less compliance to expand further
hence the alveoli at the bottom of the lungs will expand more as they have a lower resting distending pressure and therefore more ability to comply