Pulmonary perfusion, ventilation and VQ mismatch Flashcards
ventilation definition
the process of moving air into and out of the lungs to facilitate gas exchange with the internal environment
what does ventilation depend upon?
diffusion
diffusion definition
the net movement of molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration until equilibration
what occurs in the respiratory zone?
carbon dioxide diffuses out of the venous blood and oxygen diffuses into the venous blood across the blood-air barrier
blood-air barrier definition
capillary endothelium, alveolar epithelium and their fused basement membranes and associated structures that form a very thin diffusion pathway
respiratory zone definition
region where gaseous exchange takes place
10% in bronchioles and alveolar ducts
90% in alveoli
diffusion capacity definition
the measurement of the transfer of gas from the air in the lung to the red blood cells in lung blood vessels
what normally impacts the diffusion capacity?
a misnomer, as most commonly diffusion is not the limiting factor but instead it is perfusion
Fick’s Law of diffusion
Ficks Law= DxAx∆P/d
D= diffusion constant
A= surface area
∆P= partial pressure difference
d= diffusion distance
What does Fick’s law measure?
the diffusion flux, of which the dimension is amount of substance per unit area per unit time
what is nick’s law proportional to?
the gas’s solubility in the liquid
how is the diffusion speed increased in the lungs?
increase in surface area of alveoli
thin blood-air barrier
good blood supply, maintaining concentration gradient
pathologies that affect diffusion + why
pulmonary fibrosis- thicker alveoli, longer diffusion distance
pulmonary oedema- fluid in lungs increases effective thickness of alveoli
emphysema- alveoli and lung tissue destroyed, smaller surface area available for exchange
explain perfusion limitation
the blood comes into equilibrium with the alveolar gas
doubling the diffusing capacity won’t alter the gas exchange
doubling the blood flow will double the gas exchanged
explain diffusion limitation
Partial pressure gradient essentially constant along the capillary
doubling blood flow will not change gas exchange
doubling diffusing capacity will double gas exchange
whether there is diffusion or perfusion capacity depends upon?
- diffusing capacity, the bigger this is the more likely it is to get equilibration
- speed of chemical reaction with blood
- the solubility in blood, including the gas reacting with the blood
- blood flow, faster flow less time to equilibrate
where does pulmonary circulation begin?
at the main pulmonary arteries which receive mixed venous blood from the right ventricle
where do the pulmonary arteries accompany?
accompany the airways as far as the terminal bronchioles
what happens to the blood vessels at the terminal bronchioles?
arterioles form a capillary network to supply the alveoli
adaptations of the pulmonary capillaries
very large surface area
short diffusion distance formed by the close apposition of the alveoli and the vessels
what is the mean pressure in the main pulmonary artery?
15mmHg
Systolic and diastolic pressure in the main pulmonary artery
25mmHg and 8mmHg
what type of circulation is pulmonary?
low pressure circulation
why is the pressure likely to be lower in pulmonary compared to systemic?
reduced height through which the blood is required to ascend, so not pumped as much
what is a consequence of the low pressure?
pulsatile
structure of pulmonary artery wall
very thin, containing relatively little smooth muscle, often mistaken for veins
two types of pulmonary vessels
alveolar vessels- capillaries and slightly larger vessels in the corners of the alveolar walls, which are exposed to alveolar pressure
extra-alveolar vessels- larger pulmonary vessels that run through the lung parenchyma
adaptations and structures of alveolar vessels
virtually surrounded by gas
thing, single cel endothelial layer with little support
caliber definition
the diameter of the vessels
what controls the caliber in alveolar vessels?
caliber is determined by the pressure difference between the alveoli and capillaries
if the alveolar pressure rises above the pressure in the capillaries they become compressed and collapsed, negative transmural pressure