Physiology Flashcards
According to Boyle’s Law, alveolar pressure must be lower than atmospheric pressure for inspiration. How does this happen?
1) Chest wall expands
2) Intrapleural pressure falls
3) Increased pressure gradient between the intrapleural space and alveoli
4) Alveoli expand and pressure decreases
What 2 things cause chest wall movement to expand the lungs?
Intrapleural fluid cohesiveness and negative intrapleural pressure
What is intrapleural fluid cohesiveness?
Water molecules in the intrapleural fluid are attracted to each other and resist being pulled apart
What does negative intrapleural pressure do?
Forces the lungs to expand outwards when the chest wall squeezes inwards
What type of process is inspiration and how is it brought about?
Active process brought about by the contraction of inspiratory muscles
What type of process is expiration and how is brought about?
Passive process brought about by relaxation of inspiratory muscles
In expiration the lungs recoil. How is this brought about?
Elastic connective tissue in the lungs and alveolar surface tension
What reduces alveolar surface tension?
Surfactant
How would you describe resistance in the lungs and what does this mean?
The lungs have very low resistance which means air moves with a small pressure gradient
What is airway resistance determined by?
The radius of the conducting airway
What do obstructive diseases cause?
Resistance to airflow, making expiration more difficult than inspiration
What is needed to produce a given change in volume when lungs are compliant?
Greater change in pressure
What causes increased work of breathing?
Decreased compliance and elastic recoil, increased airway resistance and when increased ventilation is required
What is anatomical dead space?
Inspired air remaining in the airways
When is gas exchange best?
When rates of ventilation and perfusion are the same
What is alveolar dead space?
Ventilated alveoli which are not adequately perfused
How would you increase airflow if perfusion was greater?
1) Increase CO2
2) Relaxation of airway smooth muscle
3) Dilation of local airways
4) Decreased airway resistance
How would you increase blood flow if airflow was greater?
1) Increase O2
2) Relaxation of pulmonary arteriolar smooth muscle
3) Dilation of blood vessels
4) Decreased vascular resistance
Which chemoreceptors detect arterial PaCO2 and pH?
Central and peripheral chemoreceptors
Which chemoreceptors detect arterial PO2?
Peripheral chemoreceptors only
What is the most important factor detected by chemoreceptors?
PaCO2
What does an increased PaCO2 do to ventilation?
Causes an almost linear rise in litres ventilated per min
If PaCO2 goes above 10kPa, what happens and why?
Ventilation starts to decrease due to suppression of central respiratory neurones
What does metabolic acidosis do to the CO2-ventilation curve?
Shifts left
What does metabolic alkalosis do to the CO2-ventilation curve?
Shifts right
What does a rise in [H+] ions from increased PCO2 cause?
Respiratory acidosis
What has a bigger effect on the CO2-ventilation curve, increasing or decreasing PaO2?
Decreasing (by a lot)
When does a decreasing PaO2 begin to have an effect on ventilation?
When it gets below 8kPa
What are central chemoreceptors and where are they located?
Diffuse collection of neurones which are located near the ventrolateral surface of the medulla
What are central chemoreceptors sensitive to?
pH of cerebrospinal fluid
What is the blood brain barrier impermeable to? Give examples of what can’t/can pass through.
Polar substances- H+ and HCO3- cannot pass through but CO2 can
What is the pH of cerebrospinal fluid determined by?
PaCO2