Physiology Review Book Notes Flashcards
What are the 2 main portions of the respiratory system? And what is the general fcn of each?
Conducting Portion: ventilation/to warm, humidify & filter the air
Respiratory Portion: gas exchange
What structures are a part of the conducting portion?
nose, nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, terminal bronchioles
When particles in the air are not removed in the nose…how are they removed in the conducting portion?
they are captured by mucus along the conducting portion b/c there are mucus-secreting cells…then they are swept upward by the rhythmic beating of the ciliated cells…
Explain the sympathetic & parasympathetic innervation of the conducting portion.
Smooth muscle lines the conducting airways.
These are innervated by nerve fibers.
Sympathetic: acts on beta 2 receptors & causes dilation.
Parasympathetic: acts on muscarinic receptors & causes constriction.
What are 3 substances that can be used to treat asthma? Why are they useful?
Epinephrine (released by the adrenal medulla sometimes) Isoproterenol Albuterol **these are all beta 2 agonists **they cause dilation of the airways...
Which structures are a part of the respiratory portion?
Respiratory Bronchioles
Alveolar Ducts
Alveolar Sacs
Why are respiratory bronchioles considered a part of the respiratory portion? What characteristics do they share w/ the conducting portion?
They share the characteristics of cilia & smooth muscle…
But they are considered a part of the respiratory b/c sometimes alveoli bud off their walls.
What are the characteristics of the alveolar ducts & the alveolar sacs?
Alveolar Ducts: completely lined w/ alveoli
no cilia & only a little smooth muscle…
Alveolar Sacs: termination of the alveolar ducts…totally lined w/ alveoli…NO smooth muscle or cilia, however.
What makes alveoli a good structure for gas diffusion?
thin walls
large surface area for diffusion
What makes up the walls of the alveoli?
elastic fibers
epithelial cells: Type 1 & 2 pneumocytes.
Which epithelial cell type makes surfactant?
Type II pneumocytes
Which epithelial cell type can reproduce & regenerate both cell types?
Type II pneumocytes…
What does the body do when debris finds its way all the way down by the alveoli?
It uses its alveolar macrophages. Macrophages eat the debris & move toward the bronchioles.
The cilia are at this level again & they beat the debris up to be swallowed or whatever…
Where does the main source of blood flow to the lungs come from? What is it called?
Pulmonary blood flow (pulmonary arteries) pumped out of the right ventricle…basically cardiac output. This is the source of blood flow that participates in gas exchange.
Aside from pulmonary arteries…what is the more minor source of blood flow to the lungs?
Bronchial arteries…don’t participate in gas exchange…supplies the tissues of the conducting portion of the respiratory system…
How is pulmonary blood flow regulated?
Altering the resistance of the pulmonary arterioles…
controlled by local factors: mainly O2
T/F In the supine position, the blood flow is equal at different parts of the lungs.
True.
T/F In the standing position, the blood flow is equal at different parts of the lungs.
False.
due to gravitational effects…it is not equal…
Apex has low blood flow
Base has high blood flow
How are static volumes of the lung measured?
Spirometer
Normal breathing involves the inspiration & expiration of _______….
a tidal volume, about 500 mL
What makes up the tidal volume?
about 500mL the amount of air in the alveoli & the airways…
What is considered the inspiratory reserve volume? What is its approximate volume?
the extra amount above the tidal volume that you can inspire during maximal inspiration…about 3000 mL
What is considered the expiratory reserve volume?
What is its approximate volume?
the extra amount below the tidal volume that you can expire during maximal expiration….about 1200 mL
What is the residual volume? What is its approximate value?
The amount of air that is left over in the lungs even after maximal expiration…about 1200 mL
What is inspiratory capacity?
Tidal Volume + Inspiratory Reserve Volume
What is functional residual capacity?
Expiratory Reserve Volume + Residual Volume
**amount left in lungs after expiring normal tidal volume…
What is total lung capacity?
Everything added together, including residual volume.
What is vital capacity?
inspiratory reserve volume + tidal volume + expiratory reserve volume
**expiration ability after maximal inspiration
What are the 2 capacities that can’t be measured using spirometry? Why? Which is more important to find another way to measure?
Functional Residual Capacity & Total Lung Capacity
- *both include residual volume
- *FRC is more important
What are the 2 weird methods by which you can measure FRC?
Helium Dilution
Body Plethysmograph
What is dead space? What are the 2 types?
Volume of the airways & lungs the does not participate in gas exchange…
Anatomic Dead Space
Physiologic Dead Space
What is anatomic dead space?
The amount of air that naturally gets caught in areas of the lungs that do NOT participate in gas exchange…
Ex: conducting airways.
Volume is usu 150 mL
If you want to get a sample of alveolar air…which part of the air do you want to capture?
the end-expiratory air…b/c the air caught in the conducting airways/anatomic dead space is the air that comes out first….
What is physiological dead space?
total volume of the lungs that does not participate in gas exchange…
anatomic dead space + functional dead space…
What is functional dead space?
the amount of space in the lungs, esp the alveoli that does not participate in gas exchange…
**ventilated alveoli that don’t participate in gas exchange…
What is the main reason for functional dead space?
mismatch of ventilation & perfusion…when ventilated alveoli aren’t perfused by pulmonary capillary blood…
What is the idea behind measuring physiological dead space? What is the equation?
compare the amount of CO2 in the expired air & the capillary CO2=alveolar CO2.
Higher the dead space, lower the expired air CO2 compared to alveolar CO2.
Vdead=Vtidal volume X PaCO2-PECO2/PaCO2
What is minute ventilation?
the total rate of air movement into & out of the lungs in a minute…
Minute Ventilation = Vt X RR
What is alveolar ventilation?
ventilation rate that takes into account dead space…
Alveolar Ventilation:
Va = (Vt-Vd) X RR
What is the alveolar ventilation equation that includes the term PACO2? What relationship does this show?
VA=VCO2 X K/PACO2
**it shows that the alveolar ventilation is inversely proportional to the arterial & alveolar CO2 concentration…
What is K equal to in the alveolar ventilation equation?
K=863 mmHg normally…
What 2 variables determine alveolar PCO2?
CO2 production in the tissues alveolar ventilation (how much CO2 you get rid of thru expiration)
If CO2 production is constant, then what determines PACO2?
Alveolar Ventilation