Pulmonary Physiology Flashcards
Tidal volume
Breath volumes during quiet breathing.
Functional residual capacity
Measured as the balance point where no work is done?? Lowest point of expiration during tidal breathing. Equal to expiratory reserve volume + residual volume.
Harder to measure- use helium dilution
Residual volume
Volume of air that remains in lungs after maximum expiration
Vital capacity
Difference between maximal inspiration and maximal expiration. Measured with gases expired.
Forced expiratory volume
Measured during force expiration test. Gives idea of lung health when plotted vs time. NORMAL EXPIRES MORE THAN 75% IN FIRST 1s.
What is the pattern of obstructive disease in forced expiration tests?
FEV1/FVC is reduced (can still exhale but takes longer so FEV1 is reduced)
What the the pattern of restrictive disease in forced expiration test?
- FVC is reduced
- FEV1/FVC is not reduced?
- May be due to decreased lung capacity OR increased residual volume
Diffusion capacity
How well gas diffuses across a membrane. Dictated by: 1. Pressure difference of gas 2. Surface area of membrane 3. Thickness of membrane 4. Also related to pulmonary blood volume (need hemoglobin to take up CO) Measured using carbon monoxide
What can cause reduced diffusion capacity?
- Decreased area, decreased hemoglobin, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary vascular disease
COPD (reduced area)
lung resection
Pus in airspace (pneumonia)
Swelling or fibrosis (increased thickness)
Decrease in pulmonary blood volume (emboli or HTN)
Total lung capacity
Volume of air in lungs at the end of a maximal inspiration. Equal to sum of tidal volume, reserve volumes, residual volume.
What is the major determinant of hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO2)?
The partial pressure of oyxgen dissolved in the blood (PaO2).
How is total oxygen content calculated?
Sum of hemoglobin saturation (SaO2) and free oxygen dissolved in plasma (PaO2).
On an oxygen dissociation curve, when will hemoglobin be maximally saturated? 75% saturated? 50% saturated?
> 60= over 90% saturated
40=75% saturated
27.5=50% saturated
In an oxygen dissociated curve, what are the advantages of:
- the flat part of the curve
- The steep part of the curve
- This means that even if the PO2 (atmospheric) drops, actual body O2 won’t really be affected (Ie. moving to a higher altitude). There will still be a large pressure difference between the alveoli and blood, driving diffusion.
- Peripheral tissues can get a lot of O2 with only a small change in the pressure of oxygen in the capillaries. Ie. this allows us to offload oxygen to tissues very quickly when running away from something.
How long does diffusion in the alveoli take and why is the physiologically advantageous?
Diffusion is pretty much finished by the time a RBC has gone 1/3 of the distance across the capillary.
This gives wiggle room- if blood is flowing rapidly (like in exercise), there is still enough time for diffusion to occur.
What factors affect the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen?
- temperature (alters structure)
- pH (drives the binding equilibrium backwards)
- Partial pressure of CO2 (will compete for binding spots)
- Concentration of 2,3-diphosphglycerate in cells (metabolic enzyme that responds to low 02)