Pulmonary Circulation Flashcards
Summarize the features of pulmonary circulation”action
Entire CO goes through pulmonary circulation in series
Pulmonary artery: pressures very low (resistance pulmonary flow low)
Capillaries: large cross sectional area-low resistance, slow flow
Low pressures 25/8 (systolic vs diastolic)
- prevent edema in fragile/ thin alveoli
- thin walled arteries
Contrast pulmonary and systemic circulation
Pulmonary artery mean pressure- 15 mmHg
Aorta mean pressure- 100 mmHg
Left atrium - 8
Right atrium- 2 mmHg
Driving pressure of pulmonary circulation 15-8=7
Driv8ng pressure of system8c circulation= 100-2=98
How is the pulmonary circulation regulated by resistance?
Flow(Q)= pressure gradient(🔼P)=/resistance(R)
Primarily control flow with resistance-as the pressure gradients are small
Increases in resistance, leads to decrease in
Blood flow
Decrease in resistance leads to increase in …
Blood flow
Contrast pulmonary and systemic circulation
-accommodates entire cardiac output, hence, high capacity
Has to protect fragile and vast capillary bed—> hence, low pressure circulation (vs high pressure systemic circulation
Thin walls, less smooth muscle, highly distensible, highly compressible
Distribution of pressure drops…
Pulmonary circulation
Resistance is much more evenly distributed across the pulmonary circulation
No large pressure drop as occurs across systemic arterioles.
Note: pulmonary resistance 10x LESS systemic resistance
Why are pulmonary pressures low?
RV only has to pump blood to the apex of the lungs (10 cm above the heart). High pressure is needed.
Resistance: presence of capillaries bed rather than network
Pulmonary capillary bed- ‘sheet’ of blood- large total cross sectional area, lower resistance
Systemic capillary network- individual capillaries very small diameter, greater resistance
Describe dual circulation to lungs
Pulmonary (to respiratory zone) 100% CO
Bronchial (to conducting zone) 1% CO from bronchial artery
What are the two Types of vessels that run through lung tissue?
- Alveolar vessels
2. Extra-alveolar vessels
Describe alveolar vessels
- Capillaries and slightly larger vessels
- Surrounded by alveoli on all sides
- Alveolar air pressure (PA) affects their patency (openness)
- Expanded/inflated alveoli (increases PA)—> alveolar vessels crushed
- Collapsed alveoli (decreased PA)—> alveolar vessels open up
Describe extra-alveolar vessels
Outside the alveoli
Affected by lung volume inflation/radial tension
Pleural pressures (slightly negative(due to opposing forces- thorax expanding and lung recoil
Contrast alveolar and extra-alveolar vessels with increased lung volume end max inspiration
Alveolar vessels
-Expanded/inflated alveoli (increased PA)
- increased air pressure on blood vessels (BV)
- Decreased radius, alveolar vessels compressed
- increased resistance
- decreased flow
Extra-alveolar
- Pleural press more negative
- lung tissues expand outward pulling open extra-alveolar BV, increased radius
- decreased resistance
- increased flow
Contrast alveolar and extra-alveolar vessels with decreased lung volume end max expire
Alveolar
- alveolar smaller (decreased PA)
- decreased air pressure on blood vessels (BV)
- increase radius, alveolar vessels open up
- decreased resistance
- increase flow
Extra-alveolar
- pleural pressure less negative
- compressed lungs
- decreased radius, compressedextra-alveolar BV
- increased resistance
- decreased flow
How do alveoli change in changes in pressure?
When lung inflated maximally- alveoli distended
exert a pressure on blood vessels running between the alveoli-even stopping flow
-When lung is deflated - less pressure is exerted and blood flow resumes
Normally- lung in tidal breathing resistance increases on inspiration and decreases on expiration for ALVEOLAR VESSELS
Why can blood flow not stop during inspiration?
Lung also has Extra-alveolar vessels, I.e. not in the alveolar septa but running between alveoli in the lung paarenchyma
These vessels are sensitive to intrapleural pressure, I.e. as PIP becomes more negative radial tension increases and extra-alveolar vessels open up (somewhat analogous to airway opening during lung inflation)
Whaat are the differences in in response to changes in lung volume
Extr-alveolar volume- Radial traction forces keep them open. (High trans pulmonary pressures). Pulled open as alveoli expand
Radial Fraction forces> inflated lung is inflated. So their resistance falls as the lung inflates
Alveolar vessels- in alveolar walls. Stretching of the alveolar walls leads to stretching and pulls vessels closed.
What causes regional changes in pulmonary flow?
Gravity—>. Increased blood flow, pressures at base of lungs
What is lung zoning?
This is based on perfusion of lung- due to alveolar and vessel pressures
What are the 2 factors affecting lung zoning?
Alveoli:
Air pressure within alveoli - PA- relatively constant throughout lungs
Alveolar capillaries:
The arteriolar capillaries is ALWAYS > venular pressures (Pa> Pv)
This is the driving force of blood through the capillaries
How does the gravity affect blood pressures in lungs?
Pressure= pgH
p= density of blood
g=gravitational acceleration
H= height of cylinder
Not need to know equation
Take home message: weight of blood in different parts aff3cts blood pressure
Zone 1: PA> Pa> Pv no flow
Zone 2: Pa> PA> Pv restricted flow
Zone 3: Pa> Pv> PA
What is the perfusion gradient of the lung?
Perfusion to base of lungs is much > apex by about 5x
Depending on height relative to heart (blood pump) lung divided into 4 zones
- Alveolar vessels
- Sensitive to alveolar pressure (PA)
- Extra-alveolar vessels
- Sensitive to intrapleural pressure (PIP)