Physiology Flashcards
What is external respiration?
the sequence of events that leads to the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the external environment and the cells of the body.
What does internal respiration refer to?
The intracellular mechanisms which consume oxygen and produce carbon dioxide.
Name the four steps of external respiration
Ventilation, gas exchange between alveoli and blood, gas transport in the blood, gas exchange at tissue level
State Boyle’s law
At any constant temperature the pressure exerted by a gas varies inversely with the volume of the gas. As the volume of a gas increases, the pressure exerted by the gas decreases.
What are the two forces that hold the thoracic wall and the lungs in close opposition?
- intrapleural fluid cohesiveness: the water molecules in the intrapleural fluid are attracted to each other and resist being pulled apart. Hence the pleural membranes tend to stick together.
- negative intrapleural pressure: the sub-atmospheric intrapleural pressure creates a transmural pressure gradient across the lung wall and across the chest wall. So the lungs are forced to expand outwards while the chest is forced to squeeze inwards.
What are the typical values of: atmospheric pressure, intra alveolar pressure and intrapleural pressure?
760, 760, 755
What is a pneumothorax?
Air in the pleural space
What causes lungs to recoil during expiration?
Elastic connective tissue and alveolar surface tension
Explain the law of LaPlace in relation to small alveoli
the smaller alveoli have a higher tendency to collapse
What is pulmonary surfactant?
A complex mixture of lipids and proteins secreted by type II alveoli. It lowers alveolar surface tension.
What is alveolar interdependence?
if an alveolus starts to collapse the surrounding alveoli are stretched and then recoil exerting expanding forces in the collapsing alveolus to open it.
Name the accessory muscles of inspiration, the major muscles and the muscles of active expiration.
Scalenus and sternocleidomasteod, extenal intercostal muscles and diaphragm, abdominal muscles
Tidal volume volume
500ml
Inspiratory reserve volume volume
3000ml
Inspiratory capacity volume
3500ml
expiratory reserve volume volume
1000ml
residual volume volume
1200ml
functional residual capacity volume
2200ml
vital capacity volume
4500ml
total lung capacity volume
5700ml
What is the tidal volume?
The volume of air entering and leaving the lungs during a single breath
What is the inspiratory reserve volume?
The extra volume of air that can be maximally inspired over and above the typical resting tidal volume
What is the inspiratory capacity?
The maximum volume of air that can be inspired at the end of a normal quiet expiration. IC = TV + IRV
What is the expiratory reserve volume?
The extra volume of air that can be actively expired by maximal contraction beyond the normal volume of air after a resting tidal volume.
What is the residual volume?
The minimum volume of air remaining in the lungs even after maximal expiration.
What is functional residual capacity?
The volume of air in the lungs at the end of normal passive expiration (FRC = ERV + RV)
What is the vital capacity?
The maximum volume of air that can be moved out during a single breath following a maximal inspiration (VC = IRV + TV + ERV)
What is total lung capacity?
The maximum volume of air that the lungs can hold (TLC = VC + RV)
What is forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) ?
Th volume of air that can be expired during the first second of expiration in an FVC determination. A ration with a percentage above 75% is normal.
What does parasympathetic stimulation do to the bronchioles?
Causes bronchoconstriction
What does sympathetic stimulation do to the bronchioles?
Causes bronchodilatation
What is pulmonary compliance?
The measure of effort that has to go into stretching or distnding the lungs
Name five factors that decrease pulmonary compliance
pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary oedema, lung collapse, pneumonia, absence of surfactant
In what condition does increased compliance occur?
emphysema
What is anatomical dead space?
Inspired air that remains in the airways and is not available for gas exchange (150ml)
What is pulmonary ventilation?
The volume of air breathed in and out per minute. TV + RR = 0.5 + 12 = 6 L/min
Why is alveolar ventilation less than pulmonary ventilation?
Because of the presence of anatomical dead space
What is alveolar ventilation?
The volume of air exchanged between the atmosphere and alveoli per minute. It represents the new air available for gas exchange with blood. (TV - dead space) x RR = (0.5 - 0.15) x 12 = 4.2 L/min
What does decreased oxygen do to pulmonary arterioles?
Vasoconstriction
What does increased oxygen do to pulmonary arterioles?
Vasodilatation
What does decreased oxygen do to systemic arterioles?
Vasodilatation
What does increased oxygen do to systemic arterioles?
Vasoconstriction
State Dalton’s law
the total pressure exerted by a gaseous mixture depends on the sum of the partisl pressures of each individual component in the gas mixture
How much does watere vapour pressure contribute to the total pressure in the lungs?
47 mmHg
What is the pressure of inspired air and how was it worked out?
atmospheric pressure - water vapour pressure = 760 - 47 = 713 mm Hg
What is the partial pressure of oxygen?
150 mmHg
Across pulmonary capillaries: what is the partial pressure gradient of oxygen from alveoli to blood?
60 mmHg
Across the pulmonary capillaries: what is the partial pressure gradient of carbon dioxide from blood to alveoli?
6 mmHg
Across systemic capillaries: what is the partial pressure gradient of oxygen from blood to tissue cell?
greater than 60 mmHg
Across systemic capillaries what is the partial pressure gradient of carbon dioxide from tissue cell to blood ?
greater than 6 mmHg
Which is more soluble in membranes - CO2 or oxygen?
CO2
What is the solubility of gas in membranes known as?
The diffusion coefficient.
How much greater is the diffusion coefficient for C02 compared to oxygen?
20 times greater
What would a big gradient between PA02 and Pa02 indicate?
Problems with gas exchange in the lungs or a right to left shunt in the heart
How much of the cardiac output does the pulmonary circulation receive?
The entire cardiac output
What has a respiratory membrane?
Alveoli
What do the walls of alveoli consist of?
Single layer of flattened type I alveolar cells
What encricles each alveolus?
Pulmonary capillaries
Name 4 factors that influence the rate of gas exchange across alveolar membranes?
- Partial pressure gradients of O2 and CO2
- Surface area of alveolar membrane
- Thickness of blood/air barrier across membrane
- Diffusion coefficient (solubility of gas in membrane)
In relation to the partial pressure gradients of O2 and CO2: what happens when the partial pressure increases?
Rate of transfer of gas exchange across alveolar membranes increases
In relation to hte surface area of alveolar membranes: what occurs when the surface area increases?
Rate of transfer increases
What does the surface area of alveolar membranes increase during and why?
During exercise as more pulmonary capillaries open up when the cardiac output increases and the alveoli expand as breathing deepens
In relation to the thickness of blood/air barrier across membranes: what occurs as it thickens?
Rate of transfer decreases
What does thickness of blood/air barrier across membrane increase with?
Pathological conditions such as pulmonary oedma, pulmonary fibrosis and pneumonia
In relation to the diffusion coefficient (solubility of gas in membrane): what occurs as the diffusion coefficient decreases?
Rate of transfer increases
Where must oxygen that has been picked up by the blood be transported to?
Tissues for cellular use
Where must CO2 produced at the tissues be transported to?
The lungs for removal from the body
What is the PO2 in atmospheric air?
160
What is the PCO2 in atmospheric air?
0.03
What is the PO2 in alveoli?
100
What is the PCO2 in alveoli?
40
What is the PO2 in deoxygenated blood?
40
What is the PCO2 in deoxygenated blood?
46
What is the PO2 in oxygenated blood?
100
What is the PCO2 in oxygenated blood?
40
In the tissues what is the PO2?
<40
In the tissues what is the PCO2?
> 46
What law relates to the effect of partial pressure on gas solubility?
Henry’s law
What is Henry’s law?
The amount of a given gas dissolve in a given type and volume of liquid (e.g. blood)v at a constant temperature is: proportional to the partial pressure of the gas in equilibrium with the liquid.
If the partial pressure in the gas phase is increased, what happens to the concentration of the gas in the liquid phase?
It would increase proportionally
What is the oxygen amount dissolved in blood proportional to?
The partial pressure