Physical Aspects of Breathing Flashcards
Why does the amount of oxygen consumed differ from the CO2 produced?
It depends on the carbon source
ratio of CO2 produced to O2 consumed
respiratory quotient (R)
Value of respiratory quotient for a normal, mixed diet
0.8
Value of respiratory quotient for a pure fat diet
0.7
Value of respiratory quotient for a pure carb diet
1
used clinically to determine the composition of alveolar gas; by comparing alveolar gas to blood gas we can determine how well the lungs are working
Alveolar Gas Equation
The total pressure of a mixture of gases is the sum of the pressures exerted by each gas
Dalton’s Law of partial pressures
Which gases compose the majority of air
Nitrogen (78%) Oxygen (21%) CO2 (0.04%) H2O traces of other gases
Normal barometric pressure at sea level
760 mmHg
- assuming humidity is 0%
What is the partial pressure of O2 in the atmosphere?
160 mmHg
Why is the oxygen content of air “diluted” once it reaches the trachea and alveoli?
Trachea: water vapor (humidity) dilutes it
Alveoli: C02 leaving body dilutes it
Vapor pressure of H20
47mmHg
The amount of gas dissolved in the liquid is directly proportional to the partial pressure of the gas above the liquid
Henry’s Law
Partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide in blood entering and leaving the alveolar capillaries
pO2: 104 mmHg
pCO2: 40 mmHg
How many “generations” (divisions) are there in your airway
23 (resulting in over 8 million airway segments and about 300 million alveoli)
parts of the airway that are considered “conducting”
Trachea
Bronchi
Bronchioles
Terminal bronchiole (last part of conducting zone)
last part of the conducting airway
terminal bronchiole
portion of airway where capillaries are not close enough to inspired air for gas exchange; contributes to anatomic dead space; trachea, bronchi, bronchiole and terminal bronchiole
Conducting zone
portion of airway where capillaries are close enough to inspired air for gas exchange; rich vascularization; respiratory bronchiole, alveolar duct and alveolar sac
Respiratory zone
When does the branching of the airways begin to result in an exponential increase cross-sectional area (after what “generation”)
Generation 10
Muscles involved with inspiration
- Diaphragm (contract to flatten/downward movement)
2. External intercostals (Elevate ribs 2-12 outward which widen thoracic cavity)
Muscles involved with expiration
- Usually none (passive and by lung elastic recoiling)
2. Active/forced is by contraction of abdominal and internal intercostal muscles (plus lung elastic recoil
1 mmHg = ??? cmH2O
1.36 cmH2O
As the inspiratory muscles contract and increase the volume of the thoracic cavity, alveolar pressure becomes more _____________ creating a driving force for the inward flow of air
negative (sub-atmospheric)
- -1 cmH2O
the space between the outer surface of the lung (visceral pleura) and the inner surface of the thoracic cavity (parietal pleura); usually filled with a small amount of fluid (10 mL)
Intrapleural space