Physiology Flashcards
What is respiratory acidosis? How is it corrected?
Accumulation of CO2 due to a disease of the lungs or a problem with the mechanics of respiration
The body tries to hold alkali by reabsorbing HCO3 from the kidneys
What is respiratory alkalosis? How is it corrected?
Relative lack of acid because of the loss of CO2 due to hyperventilation
Appropriate response is to lose HCO3 but this is too slow and rarely happens
What is metabolic acidosis? How is it corrected?
Excess of H+ due to disease e.g. lactic acidosis, DKA, renal failure, sepsis
The body tries to get rid of acid by getting rid of CO2 by hyperventialation
What is metabolic alkalosis? How is it corrected?
Net loss of acid from the body leaving an alkali surplus (typically vomiting)
To counteract the surplus the body tries to hold onto acid by hypoventilating and retaining CO2
How does respiratory acidosis appear on ABG? Give three examples
Reduced pH
Increase in CO2
Little or no change in HCO3 (increase in chronic)
Respiratory depression (opiates), asthma, COPD
How does respiratory alkalosis appear on ABG? Give three examples
Elevated pH
Hyperventilation with a low CO2
Little change in HCO3
Anxiety, pain, PE, pneumothorax
How does metabolic acidosis appear on ABG? Give three examples
Reduced pH
Tachypnoea with a reduced CO2
Reduced HCO3 as it used up by the pH
DKA, diarrhoea, renal tubular acidosis
How does metabolic alkalosis appear on ABG? Give three examples
Elevated pH
Marginal increase in CO2 (hypoventilation relatively ineffective)
Vomiting, diarrhoea, HF, cirrhosis, renal failure, diuretics
List respiratory causes of SOB
Asthma COPD Pneumonia Lung cancer Pulmonary fibrosis Pleural effusion Pneumothorax
List cardiovascular causes of SOB
Heart failure IHD Hypertension Valvular HD Cardiomyopathy Arrhythmia Pulmonary embolism
List other causes of SOB
Anaemia Acidosis Panic attack Exercise Obesity Pregnancy
State the two respiratory centres in the brainstem and give their role in respiration
Pons (modifies respiration)
Medulla (rhythm generator)
State the two main stimuli that influence respiratory centres in the brainstem
Central chemoreceptors
Peripheral chemoreceptors
Peripheral chemoreceptors sense tension of…
Oxygen
Some carbon dioxide
Hydrogen in the blood
Central chemoreceptors sense tension of…
Hydrogen in the CSF
Carbon dioxide
What is the most potent stimulant of respiration in normal people?
Arterial PCO2 acting through central chemoreceptors
Hypoxic drive of respiration is controlled by what type of chemoreceptors?
Peripheral chemoreceptors
List the major muscles of inspiration
Diaphragm
External intercostals
List the accessory muscles of inspiration
Sternocleidomastoid
Scalenus
List the muscles of active expiration
Internal intercostals
Abdominal muscles
What is the transmural pressure gradient?
Differences between intra-alveolar pressure and intrapleural pressure during the respiratory cycle
List forces keeping the alveoli open
Transmural pressure gradient
Pulmonary surfactant
Alveolar interdependance
List forces promoting alveolar collapse
Elasticity of fibres
Alveolar surface tension
Parasympathetic stimulation causes bronchoconstriction/dilatation
Bronchoconstriction