Pulmonary Ventilation Flashcards
How does Boyle’s law control ventilation?
P is inversely proportional to V.
When volume of the lung increases, Plung< Patm so air rushes in and inspiration occurs.
When volume decreases, Plung>Patm so air is forced out of the lungs and expiration occurs.
Define intra-pleural pressure
Pip= pressure in the pleura of the lungs.
Is Pip positive or negative?
Pip is always negative as Palv> Pip so pressure is exerted outwards onto the pleura. If Pip>Palv then pressure is exerted into the lungs & the lungs would collapse.
Define intra-alveolar pressure
Palv= the pressure within the alveoli.
What determines Palv?
- The number of alveoli in the lungs.
2. The volume of alveoli in the lungs.
What is atelectasis? In what disease state does it occur?
Atelectasis= the loss of alveoli. Commonly occurs in emphysema.
What is the effect of atelectasis on airway resistance?
Loss of alveolar tissue causes the collapse of airways due to loss of ‘radial traction’ which alveoli supply. AAR, airway resistance majorly increases with atelectasis, air will then struggle to get into and out of the lungs.
What balance of pressure ensures the lungs remain constantly inflated?
Palv>Pip
Define trans-pulmonary pressure
The difference between Pip & Palv.
Give the formula for TPP
Palv-Pip
Why is expiration easier than inspiration? Answer in terms of pressures.
Tpp is higher on inhalation due to the further decreasing of Pip (more neg), difference in Pip and Palv is at its greatest at this point. Compliance is inversely proportional to TPP so an increase in TPP makes it more difficult to get air into the lungs. When expiration occurs, Pip rises as Palv is not as strong so TPP lowers and compliance thus increases. More effort required to inspiration due to higher TPP.
What event brings about a spontaneous pneumothorax?
Sudden bursting of blebs in the subpleura.
Who do spontaneous pneumothorax’ most commonly affect?
Tall males.
How does a tension pneumothorax occur?
Pleura form a one-way flap valve.
What pressure change brings about a pneumothorax?
Pip becomes greater than Palv so pressure is exerted into the lung & it has no choice but to collapse.
Define the function of T1 septal cells
Provide structure to the walls and have an energy-dependent membrane associated pumps which remove liquids that would otherwise impair gas exchange.
What happens to T1 septal cells when they are damged/ die?
Nothing- they cannot be replaced once lost.
Where are endothelial cells found?
Lining blood vessel walls. In the alveolar space- the blood vessels are capillaries w a cell wall that is only one cell thick= facilitates gas exchange.
What is the purpose of fused basal laminae in the alveolar space?
Shared walls between alveoli mean easier diffusion of gases- if there were individual walls each alveoli would need its own blood supply which would take up a major amount of space in the lungs.
Give the function of T2 septal cells
They produce surfactant, a lipid coating for the alveoli to prevent them alveolar collapse during breathing. They can replace T1 septal cells is necessary but this takes long.
What is the purpose of dust cells>?
Dust cells= patrolling macrophages which detect & destroy pathogens which have entered the alveolar space.
Give the function of the alveolar space.
NB for gas exchange, as tissue support for the airways.
Define compliance
The ease at which our lungs stretch.
Give the formula for compliance
dV/ dTPP.
Is compliance greater on inspiration or expiration?
Inspiration, as the lungs are stretching outwards.
Why would compliance reduce in an individual?
Aging: arthritis, stiffening of the chest.
Restrictive lung diseases e.g. pulmonary fibrosis.
How does atelectasis relate to compliance?
Initially the loss of alveoli means there is more ‘room’ for air to get into the lungs, so the lungs are technically more compliant. But the extra air which comes in cannot get out so AAR it is trapped & compliance then reduces- more difficult to get air in when there’s no space for it.
What is lung recoil?
Lung’s ability to return to its resting volume after inhalation (distension). Also the ability to resist overstretching.
What causes lung recoil?
- Elastin and collagen in the lung tissue.
- Surfactant is more attracted to itself than air so it tries to pull lung tissue closer together -> surfactant closer together.
Do healthy alveoli practice compliance or recoil?
Recoil, which reduces the SA of the overall lung meaning there are thinner walls between alveoli for better gas exchange.
Explain the balance between the chest wall and compliance.
Chest wants to expand as Palv>Pip, but recoil prevents this being too extreme. A balance between stretching and recoil occurs.
Why is Poiseuille’s law used to describe airway resistance?
Because airways are branching, bendy and tortuous, so normal resistance formulae and inapplicable.
How does a small change in radius yield a great change in airway resistance?
Resistance is inversely proportional to radius ^4.
How does an increase in viscosity affect airway resistance? How might this change in viscosity occur?
Resistance is proportional to viscosity. Moisture in the air increases viscosity of the air.
Why does airway resistance not increase when radius of a vessel decreases?
The resistance in airways remains fairly constant along the tubes because the sum of the CSA’s of many small airways is equal to the CSA of a few large airways. So the overall resistance doesn’t change.
How does an increase in mucous change resistance? Give disease examples
Decrease in radius= increase in resistance. Asthma & bronchitis.
How will smooth muscle activity affect resistance? Give disease examples.
SM activity leads to bronchoconstriction, reducing radius leading to an increase in resistance. Asthma & bronchitis.
How does oedema affect airway resistance and how would pulmonary oedema come about?
Oedema will reduce compliance through the stiffening of the lungs. Pulmonary oedema occurs due to cor pulmonale.
What is cor pulmonale?
Right heart failure.
How does coughing affect airways resistance?
Prolonged coughing may prompt lungs to collapse leading to a complete resistance to airflow.