Pulmonary Mechanics Flashcards
What muscles are used for expiration?
Quiet - none, it’s passive.
Forced - abdominal muscles and internal intercostals
What muscles are used in inspiration?
Quiet - diaphragm and external intercostals
Forced - as above, and sternocleidomastoid, scalenes
What makes up the alveolar pressure?
Alveolar pressure = pressure on outside of alveoli + pressure generated by elastic recoil of alveoli
What is compliance?
The stretchiness of the lung tissue
What is maximal expiratory flow limited by?
Resistance!
Increased effort causes an increase in resistance as the airways are compressed by the raised external pressure.
This means that increasing effort may increases expiratory flow to a certain point!
What keeps the bronchioles open?
Radial traction (the outwards pull of surrounding tissue)
What keeps the upper airway open?
Cartilage
What happens when the pressure on the outside of the bronchioles is more negative than the inside?
They may collapse
What is dynamic airway compression?
In diseases which decrease the elasticity of lung tissue, muscular effort cannot compensate for lack if recoil as the muscles compress the airway, making it harder to expire.
In what conditions is dynamic airway compression a problem?
COPD and Emphysema
Can muscular effort compensate for increased airway resistance?
No.
Asthma and Bronchitis
What is surfactant?
Mostly lipid. Lowers surface tension allowing easy expansion or lungs
What is respiratory distress syndrome?
Lack of surfactant. Common in premature babies.
What receptors control ventilation?
Mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors
What do mechanoreceptors detect?
Inflation and deflation of the lungs
What are central chemoreceptors?
Detect pH changes.
Desensitised by prolonged periods of high CO2
What is hypoxic drive?
When central chemoreceptors are desensitised by prolonged periods of high CO2 so ventilation is now being controlled by the detection of hypoxia (peripheral chemoreceptors)
What is the problem with treating hypoxic drive?
Giving O2 treats the hypoxia, and so the chemoreceptors think conditions are normal again. Patient may stop ventilating. CO2 levels are dangerously high.
What are peripheral chemoreceptors?
In carotid and Aortic bodies. Detect pH.
ESSENTIAL when CO2 sensitivity is lost. Most sensitive during hypercapnia.
What are ‘restrictive’ diseases?
Decreased compliance
What are obstructive diseases?
Impaired airflow