Pulmonary Physiology Flashcards
Respiratory Physiology
Lung Volumes/Capacities:
Tidal volume (Vt):
~ 500 mL
Vt = volume in alveoli + volume in airways
Respiratory Physiology
Lung Volumes/Capacities:
Inspiratory Reserve volume (IRV)
~ 3000 mL
Max volume inspired in addition to Vt
Respiratory Physiology
Lung Volumes/Capacities:
Expiratory Reserve volume (ERV)
~ 1200 mL
Maximum forced expiration; volume expired below Vt
Respiratory Physiology
Lung Volumes/Capacities:
Residual Volume (RV)
~ 1200 mL
Gas in lungs after max forced expiration; RV cannot be measured
Lung Capacities Inspiratory Capacity (IC) =
Vt + IRV
Lung Capacities
Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) =
ERV + RV
FRC: volume left over after normal Vt is expired, so aka “equilibrium volume”
Lung Capacities Vital Capacity (VC) =
IC + ERV = Vt + IRV + ERV
a) Volume expired after maximal inspiration
b) VC ↑↑ w/chest size, male gender; ↓with age
Lung Capacities
Total Lung Capacity (TLC) =
= VC + RV
Lung Capacities
Recall, RV cannot be measured by?
Spirometry so the FRC and TLC cannot be measured by spirometry.
More interested in FRC; this is volume in lungs after normal tidal volume expiration (equilibrium volume).
Lung Capacities
More interested in FRC; this is volume in lungs after normal tidal volume expiration (equilibrium volume).
Measure with?
Measure with He dilution/body plethysmography
B.Lung Capacities
Dalton’s Law
Dalton’s Law - Px = (Total Pressure) x (% gas x in mixture)
Dead Space:
Define:
Anatomic and Physiologic space that does not participate in gas exchange.
Anatomic Dead Space:
Define:
Volume of the conducting airways/zone (nose, nasopharynx, trachea, bronchioles, terminal bronchioles).
1/3 of Vt (~500) = 150 mL; this fills the anatomic dead space and never sees gas exchange; the first air expired is unexchanged air - must sample end-expiratory air if interested in alveolar gasses.
Dead Space
Estimate dead space with body weight
70 kg man ~ 150 lbs = 150 mL dead space
Dead Space
Estimate during a breath:
(1) Inspiration of first breath (Vt ~ 500 mL), 350 makes it to alveolar sacs for gas exchange + 150 in anatomic dead space
(2) Expiration of first breath, 150 (unexchanged) anatomic dead space air is expired, but 150 mL of the 350 alveolar air (exchanged) replaces the anatomic dead space
(3) Inspiration of second breath, 350 makes it to the alveolar sac, but 150 of this air has already undergone gas exchange, so 200 mL is new exchangable air
Physiologic Dead Space
Define:
Total volume of the lung that does not participate in gas exchange.
a)Physiologic Dead Space = anatomic dead space + functional dead space in alveoli (alveolar dead space)
Physiologic Dead Space
Functional dead space occurs when?
Alveoli do not participate in gas exchange, or they do not ventilate.
(1) Normal alveoli are well perfused and ventilated
(2) This becomes important for shunting (blood goes to alveolus that is not ventilating, might as well be nothing).
Physiologic Dead Space If perfusion (pulmonary blood flow) = ventilation?
Functional, physiological dead space is very low
Physiologic Dead Space ↑↑ if there is a ventilation/perfusion defect
Dead Space Volume (VD) Calculation
Based on measuring?
Partial pressure of CO2 in mixed expired air, assuming that:
(1) All CO2 in expired air comes from functioning alveoli (ventilating and are perfused)
(2) No CO2 in inspired air
(3) No CO2 is added to mixed expired air from physiologic dead space (non-functioning alveoli + anatomical dead space)
The air that does not see a functioning alveolus?
Will not see blood, therefore CO2 cannot be added to expired air from these anatomic/physiologic spaces.
If dead space does not exist?
CO2 in expired air (PECO2) = CO2 in alveoli (PACO2) b/c all the CO2 in expired air represents
all the CO2 in alveoli coming from blood during gas exchange.
The Equation: Volume Dead Space
(1) VD = Vt x (PACO2 - PECO2)/PACO2
(2) PACO2 cannot be measured directly, but because alveolar air exchanges with blood that will become systemic arterial blood, the PCO2 of arterial blood = PACO2
(3) Example: if 80% of alveolar CO2 is expired, the dilution factor=20%. Or, 20% of each Vt (.20xVt) is the dead space (=Vd)
(4) Example: if no dead space, all CO2 in alveoli is in expired air, and dilution factor =0. Or, 0% of each Vt (0xVt) = Vd = 0
Ventilation Rate:
Volume of air in/out of lung per unit time
a) Minute ventilation = total volume moved in and out per time = Vt x #Breaths/min
b) Alveolar ventilation = total volume moved in/out per time corrected for the physiologic dead space
(1) Alveolar Ventilation = (Vt-Vd) x #Breaths/min
Alveolar Ventilation Equation - inverse relationship between?
Alveolar ventilation and PACO2! ! ! ! !
Equation: alveolar CO2 equals amount of?
CO2 produced divided by Va (Ventilating aveolar).
a)This makes sense! The amount of alveolar CO2 ↑↑ w/↑CO2 production (exercise); likewise alveolar CO2 ↓↓ if ↑alveolar ventilation, b/c ↑CO2 is expired.
Alveolar Gas Equation - predicts
PAO2 (alveolar oxygen)
PO2 is determined by?
How much O2 enters (PIO2) and how much is removed (=CO2 produced = PACO2).
R = respiratory exchange ratio or respiratory quotient.
Equation and Meaning?
R = CO2 produced/O2 consumption ~ 0.8
R = 0.8, meaning CO2 production < O2 consumption
Meaning, changes in alveolar ventilation affect O2 consumption more! Or, individuals have a CO2 production rate that is 80% of their oxygen consumption.
Example: What if R = 0.6?
What is the rate of CO2 production, relative to O2 production?
(1) Rate of CO2 production ↓ relative to O2 production
(2) PACO2/R will ↑, which will cause ↓PAO2
Forced Expiratory Volume
Recall, vital capacity is volume?
Expired after maximum inspiration.
Forced vital capacity (FVC) is?
Total volume that can be forcibly expired after max inspiration.
FEV1 =
Volume forced out in 1 second.
FEV 3 =
Volume forced out in 3 seconds (no FEV 4 because entire vital capacity is expired forcibly in 3 seconds).
FEV3 = FVC
FEV1 and FVC (FEV3) are used for lung disease, specifically ratio?
FEV1/FVC
Normal: FEV1/FVC = 0.8
80% of forced expired air occurs in 1 sec
Obstructive lung disease (asthma) =
What occurs to FEV1 and FVC?
Can’t get air out.
(1) Both FEV1 and FVC↓, but ↓↓FEV1 > ↓FVC
(2) Therefore, FEV1/FVC ↓
Restrictive lung disease (fibrosis) =
What occurs to FEV1 and FVC?
Can’t get air in (max inspiration↓).
(1) Both FEV1 and FVC ↓, but ↓FEV1 < ↓↓FVC because max inspiration↓
(2) Therefore, FEV1/FVC ↑
Mechanics of Breathing
Muscles + Thoracic Cavity
Inhalation =
Contraction of diaphragm ↑dimensions of thorax = ↑volume of thorax and lungs
a) ↑Volume = ↓Pressure (Boyle’s Law)
b) ↓Pressure in lungs allows air to enter the conductive and respiratory zones.
Mechanics of Breathing
Muscles + Thoracic Cavity
Expiration =
Relaxation of diaphragm (usually passive process) = ↓volume of lungs = ↑pressure of lungs = air forced out.
Compliance
Define:
Compliance = how much volume changes from pressure change.
Inversely related to elastance.
Compliance
Rubber band analogy:
a) Thicker vs. thinner rubber band = lots vs. little “elastic tissue”
(1) Thicker band (↑elastic tissue) has ↑recoil, but ↓stretchability = ↓compliance if ↑elastic tissue
(2) Thinner band (↓elastic tissue) has ↓recoil but ↑stretchability = ↑compliance if ↓elastic tissue.
Compliance
Lungs:
Diseases
↓Compliance =
Stiff lungs = restrIctive lung disease; can’t get air In! Fibrosis / ARDS.
Compliance
Lungs:
Diseases
↑Compliance =
Flabby lungs = Obstructive lung defect; can’t get air Out! Asthma / COPD.
Compliance of Lungs
During inspiration:
The expanding pressure (negative ↓P from ↑thoracic volume) expands the lungs and ↑volume of lung air.
Compliance of Lungs
As lung volume ↑ the alveoli?
The Alveoli become less compliant because they are elastic + relaxation of diaphragm allows expiration.
Hysteresis depends on?
Surface tension, which depends on liquid-liquid or
liquid-air interfaces.
Liquid-air interfaces have?
Weak intermolecular forces, while liquid-liquid are very strong.
During inspiration, lung begins unexpanded and the liquid-liquid forces?
Must be overcome, therefore ↓compliance.
During expiration, lung begins expanded and there are no liquid-liquid forces?
To overcome, so ↑compliance
Compliance of Chest Wall
Normally, intrapleural space has a?
Negative pressure because of two forces that “pull” and expand the space:
Chest wall naturally wants to?
Expand pull out –> ↑Volume = ↓Pressure.
Lungs are elastic and naturally want to?
“recoil” or collapse –> ↑Volume = ↓Pressure
***A nice cycle is formed by the creation of negative intrapleural pressure; this pressure allows air to fill the lungs (preventing natural collapsing of lungs) and chest to stay contained (preventing natural popping out of chest).
Pneumothorax occurs when?
Air enters the intrapleural space and becomes = Patm
rather than negative.
Pneumothorax there is no negative pressure, so?
The balance and naturally tendency of lung and chest break down.
(a) Lungs collapse
(b) Chest pops out
Compliance of Lung and Chest Wall
Individually, lung and chest wall have similar?
Compliances; together, the combined compliance is lower (two rubber bands are harder to stretch than each individually).
When volume = FRC, lung collapsing force = chest wall expanding force?
Combined lung/chest is content
When volume < FRC, lung collapsing/elastic force ↓↓ < chest wall expanding force?
Lung/chest want to expand
When volume > FRC, lung collapsing force ↑↑ > chest wall expanding force?
Lung/chest want to collapse
Think again of rubber bands: When left alone?
There is no tendency to stretch or recoil.
Think again of rubber bands: When forcibly recoiled?
The two rubber bands will want to stretch.
Think again of rubber bands: When forcibly stretched?
The two rubber bands will want to recoil.
Compliance of Lung in Disease States
Emphysema =
Loss of elastic fibers in the lung = ↑compliance = ↓recoil/tendency for the lung wanting to collapse.
Emphysema
Pressure volume curves:
Lung PV curve has ↑slope because ↑compliance, and thus for a given volume the collapsing force is less than normal
Emphysema patients will try and ↑volume to generate?
A normal collapsing force; want a ↑FRC
Emphysema have combined lung + chest wall system will intersect 0 pressure?
At a higher volume to maintain the balance of forces.
Expanding force of chest is no longer equally balanced, and thus has a tendency to pop out.
Emphysema patients look?
Barrel-chested
Compliance of of Lung in Disease States
Fibrosis =
Restrictive lung disease where tissue becomes stiffer = ↓compliance = ↑recoil/collapsing force.
Fibrosis
Pressure volume curves:
Lung PV curve has ↓slope because ↓compliance; for a given volume, the collapsing force is greater than normal.
Fibrosis expanding force <
Collapsing force
Fibrosis have the combined lung + chest wall system will intersect 0 pressure?
At a lower volume; attempt to balance forces.
Surface Tension of Alveoli
Small vs. large alveoli have?
Different tendencies to collapse because of different surface tensions.
Alveoli are lined with fluid and collapsing pressure explained by?
Laplace’s Law P = 2T/r
T = Surface Tension
P = Pressure
r = Radius
Smaller alveoli have ↑intermolecular fluid forces =
↑surface tension = ↑collapsing pressure
↑ surface tension = ↑collapsing pressure occurs because?
When ↓r, ↑interactions of liquid molecules = ↓r + ↑T = ↑P
Larger alveoli have ↑ ?
Weak fluid-air forces = ↓surface tension = ↓collapsing pressure
This means that Psmall»_space;» Pbig ==== Small empties into big.
Problem: Small alveoli have tendency to collapse when they see an opening (airway), but are better because?
They contribute to a larger total surface area for gas exchange. Answer = surfactant.