Physiology Flashcards
Internal respiration refers to the intracellular organisms which
consume O2 and produce CO2
External respiration refers to the sequence of events that leads to
the exchange of O2 and CO2 between external environment and the cells of the body
4 steps of external respiration
- Ventilation
- Gas exchange between alveoli and blood
- Gas transport in blood
- Gas exchange at tissue level
Ventilation
Process of moving gas in and out of lungs
Boyle’s Law
At any constant temperature the pressure exerted by a gas varies inversely with the volume of the gas
Linkage of Lungs to Thorax
- Intrapleural fluid cohesiveness
2. Negative intrapleural pressure
Intrapleural fluid cohesiveness
Water molecules in intrapleural fluid are attracted to each other and resist being pulled apart
Pleural membranes stick together
Negative intrapleural pressure
Below atmospheric pressure in intrapleural space creates a transmural pressure gradient across lung wall and chest wall
Lungs expand and chest tightens
Inspiration
Active Volume of thorax increases External intercostal muscles contract Ribs move up and out Diaphragm contracts (phrenic nerve from C3,C4,C5) Intra-alveolar pressure falls Air enters lungs down pressure gradient
Expiration
Passive
Lungs recoil to normal size
Alveolar pressure rises
Air leaves down pressure gradient
Pneumothorax
Air in pleural space
Complications of pneumothorax
Can cause lung to collapse
Treatment of tension pneumothorax
Decompression by insertion of IV cannula in 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line, on affected site
Causes of tension pneumothorax
Asthma Injury penetrating chest Rupture of sub-pleural pleb TB Infection Growth (Carcinoma) Hereditary Tissue (connective)
Presentation of tension pneumothorax
Pleuritic chest pain Tracheal deviation Hyper-resonance Onset sudden Reduced breath sounds Asymptomatic sometimes Xray shows collapse
What causes recoil during expiration?
Alveolar surface tension
Elastic connective tissue in lungs
Alveolar surface tension
Attraction between water molecules at liquid air interface
Produces a force in alveoli that resists stretching of lungs
Law of LaPlace
Smaller alveoli are more likely to collapse
Pulmonary surfactant
Complex mixture of lipids and proteins secreted by type II alveoli
Lowers alveolar surface tension
Lowers that of smaller alveoli more, preventing them from collapsing
Respiratory Distress Syndrome in New Born
Foetal lungs unable to produce surfactant
Causes RDS
Baby makes strenuous respiratory efforts to overcome high surface tension
Alveolar interdependance
If an alveolus starts to collapse, the surrounding alveoli are stretched and then recoil, bringing collapsing alveoli with them to reopen it
Major inspiratory muscles of respiration
Diaphragm and external intercostal muscles
Accessory muscles of inspiration
Sternocleidmastoid, scalenus, pectoral
Muscles of active expiration
Abdominal muscles and internal intercostal muscles
tidal volume
Volume of air entering or leaving lungs in a single breath
Residual volume
minimum volume of air remaining in lungs after maximal expiration
Inspiratory capacity
maximum volume of air that can be inspired at the end of a normal expiration
Total lung capacity
Vital capacity + residual volume
FVC
Forced vital capacity
Maximum volume that can be forcibly expelled from lungs following maximum inspiration
FEV/FEC
should be >70%
parasympathetic stimulation causes
bronchoconstriction
sympathetic stimulation causes
bronchodilatation
Pulmonary compliance
Measure of effort that has to go into stretching of distending the lungs
Less compliant = more work required
Increased pulmonary compliance
Emphysema
Patients have to work harder to inflate lungs
Decreased pulmonary compliance
Pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary oedema, pneumonia
Shortness of breath
Pulmonary ventilation
Volume of air breathed in and out per minute
Tidal volume x resp rate
Alveolar ventilation
Volume of air exchanged between atmosphere and alveoli per minute
Ventilation
Rate at which gas passes through lungs
Perfusion
Rate at which blood passes through lungs
Alveolar Dead Space
Ventilated alveoli that aren’t adequately perfused with blood
Perfusion > ventilation
Increased Co2
Dilatation of airways
Decreased O2
Constriction of blood vessels
Ventilation > perfusion
Decreased Co2
Constriction of airways
Increased O2
Dilatation of blood vessels