Physiology Flashcards
what is internal respiration?
refers to the intercellular mechanisms which consumes O2 and produces CO2.
what is external respiration?
refers to the sequence of events that lead to the exchange of O2 and CO2 between external environment and the cells of the body.
what are the four steps of external respiration?
1) ventilation - process of moving gas in and out the lungs
2) gas exchange between alveoli and blood in the pulmonary capillaries
3) gas transport in the blood between lungs and tissues
4) gas exchange at the tissue level
what is Boyle’s Law?
at any constant temperature the pressure exerted by a gas varies inversely with the volume of the gas. Gases move from a higher to lower pressure.
what happens during ventilation?
air flow down a pressure gradient from a region of a high pressure to a region of low pressure. during inspiration the thorax and lungs expand as a result of contraction of inspiratory muscle. as the volume of the gas increases the pressure by the gas decreases.
what two forces hold the thoracic wall and the lungs in close opposition?
1) the intrapleural fluid cohesiveness - water molecules in the intrapleural fluid are attracted to each other and resist being pulled apart. So the pleural membranes tent to stick together.
2) the negative intrapleural pressure - the sub-atmospheric intrapleural pressure create a transmural pressure gradient across the chest wall. so the lungs are forced to expand outwards while the chest is forced to squeeze inwards.
what is the atmospheric pressure?
760mm Hg at sea level
what is the intra-alveolar (intrapulmonary) pressure?
760mm Hg at sea level - it is the pressure within the lung alveoli.
what is intrapleural (intrathoracic) pressure?
pressure exerted outside the lungs within the pleural cavity - usually less than atmospheric pressure.
what is inspiration?
an active process brought about by contraction of inspiratory muscles
what does the increase in size of the lungs do to the intra-alveolar pressure?
causes it to fall
what does air do during inspiration?
enters lungs down its pressure gradient until the intra-alveolar pressure becomes equal to atmospheric pressure
what is expiration?
Normal expiration is a passive process brought about by relaxation of inspiratory muscles
What does the recoil of the lungs do to the intra-alveolar pressure?
causes it to rise
what happens to air during expiration?
leave the lungs down its pressure gradient until the intra-alveolar pressure becomes equal to atmospheric pressure
what does pneumothorax do to the pressure gradient?
abolishes the transmural pressure gradient
what causes the lungs to recoil during expiration?
- elastic connective tissue in the lungs
- alveolar surface tension
what is alveolar surface tension?
attraction between water molecules at liquid air interface, in the alveoli this produces a force which resists the stretching of lungs
what would happen if the alveoli were lined with water alone?
the surface tension would be too strong so the alveoli would collapse
what is the law of LaPlace?
the smaller alveoli have a higher tendency to collapse
what is pulmonary surfactant?
complex mixture of lipids and proteins secreted by type II alveoli
what does pulmonary surfactant do?
lowers alveolar surface tension by interspersing between water molecules lining the alveoli
How is respiratory distress syndrome caused?
developing fetal lungs cant make surfactant until late in pregnancy so premature babies may not have enough pulmonary surfactant, this causes respiratory distress syndrome as the baby makes very strenuous inspiratory efforts in an attempt to overcome the high surface tension and inflate the lungs.
what us alveolar interdependence?
if an alveolus start to collapse the surrounding alveoli are stretched and then recoil exerting expanding forces in the collapsing alveolus to open in.
what forces keep the alveoli open?
- transmural pressure gradient
- pulmonary surfactant
- alveolar interdependance
which forces promote alveolar collapse?
- elasticity of stretched lung connective tissue
- alveolar surface tension
what are the major inspiratory muscles?
diaphragm and external intercostal muscles
what are the accessory muscles of inspiration?
sternocleidomastoid, scalenus and pectoral
when do accessory muscles of inspiration contract?
during forceful inspiration
what are the muscles of active expiration?
abdominal muscles and internal intercostal muscles
what is tidal volume (TV)?
volume of air entering or leaving lungs during a single breath
what is inspiratory reserve volume (IRV)?
extra volume of air that can be maximally inspired over and above the typical resting tidal volume
what is expiratory reserve volume (ERV)?
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 residual volume (RV)?
minimum volume of air remaining in the lungs even after a maximal expiration
what is inspiratory capacity (IC)?
maximum volume of air that can be inspired at the end of a normal quiet expiration (IC = IRV + TV)
What is functional residual capacity (FRC)?
volume of air in lungs at end of normal passive expiration (FRC = ERV + RV)
What is vital capacity (VC)?
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 (TLC)?
total volume of air the lungs can hold (TLC = VC + RV)
When does residual volume increase?
when the elastic recoil of the lungs is lost e.g. in emphysema
what is FVC?
forced vital capacity - maximum volume that can be forcibly expelled from the lungs following a maximum inspiration
what is FEV1?
forced expiratory volume in one second - volume that can be expired during the first second of expiration in an FVC.
what is the FEV1/FVC ratio?
the proportion of the forced vital capacity that can be expired in the first second = (FEV1/FVC) x 100
what is the primary determinant of airway resistance?
radius of the conducting airway
what does parasympathetic stimulation cause?
bronchoconstriction
what does sympathetic stimulation cause?
bronchodilatation
what happens to intrapleural pressure during inspiration and expiration?
falls during inspiration, rises during expiration
what is dynamic airway compression?
the rising pleural pressure during active expiration compresses the alveoli and airway, this helps push the air out the lungs
what is pulmonary compliance?
a measure of effort that has to go into stretching or distending the lungs
what is pulmonary compliance decreased by?
pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary oedema, lung collapse, pneumonia and absence of surfactant
when might pulmonary compliance be increased?
if elastic recoil of lungs is lost e.g. in emphysema. this results in patients having to work harder to get air out of lungs. compliance may also increase with age
when is work of breathing increased?
- pulmonary compliance decreased
- airway resistance increased
- elastic recoil decreased
- when there is a need for increased ventilation
how is pulmonary ventilation (L) calculated?
= tidal volume x respiratory rate
why is alveolar ventilation less than pulmonary ventilation?
because of anatomical dead space
how do you calculate alveolar ventilation?
= ( tidal volume - dead space volume) x respiratory rate
what is pulmonary ventilation?
volume of air breathed in and out per minute
what is alveolar ventilation?
volume of air exchanged between the atmosphere and alveoli per minute
why is more advantageous to increase depth of breathing rather than rate?
because of anatomical dead space
what does the transfer of gases between body and atmosphere depend on?
ventilation and perfusion