Pulmonary Diffusion and Pulmonary Circulation Flashcards
how does steady state alveolar air for CO2 and O2 compare to steady state venous blood and arterial blood pressure?
PAO2 = 100 mmHg PaO2 = 95 mmHg PvO2 = 40 mmHg
PACO2 = 40 mmHg PaCO2 = 40 mmHg Pv = 46 mmHg
Henry’s Law of Solubility
-what does alpha mean?
Ci = alphai * Pi where C = gas concentration in solution, alpha = solubility coefficient, and P = partial pressure of i
- this is only when liquid and gas phase are in equilibrium at a given temperature
- liquid pressure only from dissolved gases
Rick’s Law of Diffusion
-what do D and Dl mean?
gas flow = (area/thickness) * D * (P1 - P2) where D = diffusion coefficient
- single most important is P gradient
- since Dl = (DA)/T, flow = Dl * (P1 - P2) where Dl = diffusion capacity of the lung
how does D relate to solubility and molecular weight?
diffusion coefficient = solubility / (square root MW)
is there hypoxemia and hypercapnea in hypoventilation and diffusion problems?
there is hypoxemia in both (O2 = 78 mmHg), but hypercapnea only in hypoventilation (CO2 = 55); diffusion problems have CO2 = 35 b/c CO2 is 20X more diffusable than O2
what is the regular transit time through a pulmonary capillary?
0.75 - 1.2 seconds, since t = V/Q = 75 mL / 100 mL/sec
how is the diffusion of O2, N2O, and CO along length of pulmonary capillary?
N2O has higher perfusion than O2, but both are quickly equilibrized within 0.1 sec
-transfer of N2O and O2 is perfusion-limited (more gas flow = more transfer)
CO has very low partial pressure and perfusion, b/c transfer is diffusion-limited
-doesn’t reach equilibrium even after 0.75 seconds b/c affinity for Hb is 210 X that of O2
what happens if diffusion of O2 is abnormal?
O2 will not reach equilibrium until after the full 0.75 seconds of flow through capillaries
CO2 diffusion along pulmonary capillary
it seems like the inverse of O2 (b/c diffusing out of body)
- it equilibriates quickly through fibrotic tissue and fluids present in pulmonary edema
- slowed down by CO2 chemical reactions
what happens to PO2 during exercise-induced hypoxemia?
transit time is reduced to 0.25 seconds, since flow can increase 3x
-a normal person would still equilibrate capillary blood with alveolar gas, but if there is a diffusion problem, they would get hypoxemia during exercise (longer to equilibrate)
what happens to PO2 and DlCO at high altitudes?
inspiratory hypoxia and vasoconstriction reduces DlCO and slows the rate of equilibration
what is relation of pressure gradient (between alveolar and capillaries) and equilibration time?
the smaller the difference, the shorter time to equilibrate
what happens if you increase the BP in the pulmonary artery?
there is edema, which increases the thickness of the lung, which decreases flow and rate of diffusion, taking longer to equilibrate
equations to measure diffusion capacity
flow of gas in blood (comparable to diffusion capacity) = inspiratory flow - expiratory flow
-usually assume inspiratory flow = expiratory flow
how does DlO2 compare to DlCO?
DlO2 = 1.23 DlCO
how does body position influence DlCO?
DlCO is greater when supine than upright, b/c when you lie down, there is more blood to the lung
how does exercise influence DlCO?
increased blood to lung will increase blood flow and DlCO
how do lung diseases and dysfunction influence DlCO?
they decrease it
- loss of lung tissue from surgery will decrease area
- mismatch of ventilation to perfusion (such as airway obstruction, shut, alveolar dead space that increase thickness)
- pulmonary HTN with edema