Module 4: Respiratory function and regulation during exercise Flashcards
What is external respiration?
Pulmonary ventilation: air movement in and out of the lungs (breathing)
Pulmonary diffusion: gas exchange between the lungs and the blood
What is internal respiration?
Gas transport: movement of O2 and CO2 via the blood
Capillary diffusion: gas exchange between capillary blood and the tissues
What is the tidal volume (VT)?
The amount of air entering and leaving the lungs with every normal breath
mL
What is the alveolar volume (VA)?
The fresh air that reaches the alveoli
To calculate: VT - VD (dead space volume)
mL
What is the vital capacity (VC)?
The greatest amount of air that can be expired after a maximum inspiration
What is the residual volume (RV)?
The amount of air remaining in the lungs after maximal expiration
What is the functional residual capacity?
The amount of air remaining in the lungs after normal expiration
What is the total lung capacity (TLC)?
Sum of vital capacity and residual volume
What is minute ventilation (VĖ)?
The amount of air ventilated in and out of the lungs every minute
Equation: VE = VT X RR (Respiratory Rate)
Normative VT = 500 mL @ rest
Normative RR = 12 breaths/min @ rest
Normative VE = 500 x 12 = 6000 mL/min or 6 L/min @ rest
For an average untrained male during maximal exercise
Normative VT = 3000 mL
Normative RR = 40 breaths/min
Normative VE = 120 L/min -> x20 higher than rest
What is alveolar ventilation (VÅ)?
VÅ = VA X RR
VÅ = (VT-VD) X RR
Normative VT = 500 mL @ rest
Normative VD = 150 mL @ rest
Normative RR = 12 breaths/min @ rest
Normative VÅ = (500-150) X 12 = 4200 mL/min @ rest
For an average untrained male during maximal exercise
Normative VT = 3000 mL
Normative VD = 175 mL
Normative RR = 40
Normative VÅ = 113 L/min -> x27 higher than rest
How does minute ventilation change with exercise?
Proportional to metabolic demand - greater intensity = greater ventilation
Pulmonary ventilation during light exercise = 40 L/min - facilitated by higher tidal volume
Pulmonary ventilation during moderate exercise = 80 L/min - facilitated by higher tidal volume and RR
Pulmonary ventilation during maximal exercise = 120 L/min - facilitated by higher tidal volume and RR
What is the pathway in which gas exchange (pulmonary diffusion) occurs between the alveoli and capillaries?
Inspired air path: bronchial tree -> alveoli
blood path: right ventricle -> pulmonary arteries -> pulmonary capillaries
Alveoli are surrounded by these capillaries
What are the two major functions of gas exchange?
- Replenishing blood O2 supply
- Removing CO2 from blood
What are the factors that affect gas exchange?
- Partial pressure gradient across the barrier: high to low
- Diffusion capacity (solubility) of gas
- Characteristics of barrier
What is the nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide concentration in the atmospheric air?
These concentrations do not change
Nitrogen: 79.03%
O2: 20.93%
CO2: 0.03%
What is the definition of partial pressure?
The pressure of a single gas (attributes to total pressure)
What is the partial pressure (PO2) of dry atmospheric air at sea level?
PO2 = fraction x total pressure
Normative value for total pressure = 760 mmHg
PO2 = .2093 x 760 mmHg
PO2 = 159 mmHg
What is the partial pressure (PO2) of tracheal air at sea level?
Tracheal air contains water molecules which disperse the gas molecules. As a result, there is an increase in the total volume of air (water + gas) and thus a decrease in gas pressure for a given volume of air
PO2 = 149 mmHg
How does PO2 change throughout the body?
- Atmosphere: starting PO2 (159 mmHg)
- Trachea: small dip due to water vapour (149 mmHg)
- Alveoli: large dip due to mixing with venous blood (105 mmHg)
- Arterial blood: small dip (due to the fact that not all the deoxygenated blood coming from the right atrium and ventricle partakes in gas exchange), similar to alveoli (100 mmHg with a PCO2 of 40 mmHg)
^ PO2 here determines O2 bound to haemoglobin, and thus how much blood travels in the blood stream - Large decrease as O2 is used in the muscle
- Venous blood depends on muscle O2 use (O2 leftover)
How do PO2 and PCO2 in blood change with gas exchange at rest?
Alveoli at the level of the lungs: removing CO2 from the deoxygenated blood and bringing it into the alveoli, exchanging it for O2 which travels to the capillaries oxidizing the arterial blood.
PO2 = 105 mmHg, PCO2 = 40 mmHg
Blood is then pumped out by the pulmonary vein -> left atrium and ventricle -> systemic arteries
PO2 = 100 mmHg, PCO2 = 40 mmHg
Alveoli at the level of the muscles: skeletal muscle utilizes oxygen from the capillaries and CO2 enters the bloodstream
Blood is then pumped by the systemic veins -> right atrium and ventricle -> pulmonary artery -> lungs
PO2 = 40 mmHg, PCO2 = 46 mmHg