Resp. Physiology Flashcards
List the four functions of the respiratory system
- Gas exchange
- Protection from infection
- Acid-base balance
- Communication
What is external respiration?
Respiratory system coupled with cardiovascular system - oxygenation of blood and delivery to tissues
Describe the pulmonary circulation
Movement of blood from one side of the heart to the other via the lungs for the purpose of gas exchange
What vessels are important in pulmonary circulation?
Pulmonary arteries and vein
What is systemic circulation?
Movement of blood between heart and body
Describe the concurrent changes that occur in both the respiratory and cardiovascular system during exercise
Increased rate and depth of breathing occurs to speed up substrate acquisition and waste excretion
Heart rate and strength of contraction increases to increase substrate delivery and waste removal
Where does gas exchange occur?
In the lungs
What can be said about the net volume of oxygen exchanged in a steady state?
Its equal to the amount expended by the body’s cells
What are the average volumes of O2 and CO2 exchanged per minute?
250ml Oxygen
200ml Carbon dioxide
Describe the effect exercise has on breathing rate and quote numbers
10-20 breaths per minute at rest which increases to 40-45 breaths per minute during exercise
What is the epiglottis?
A small flap of tissue that covers the trachea when swallowing to prevent food from entering
What is the pharynx?
Shared space ‘throat’ between the respiratory and alimentary systems
What is the larynx?
The voice box, contains vocal chords which vibrate to produce sound
Where does the upper respiratory tract become the lower one?
T4
The width and angle of the right bronchi is greater and more oblique than the left one - what is the clinical relevance to this?
Most aspirated foreign bodies are lodged there
Describe the connective tissue surrounding the trachea and bronchi
Rings of cartilage ‘patency’ maintain semi-rigid tubes
Airways are categorised into two zones; what are they?
Conducting and respiratory zones
What do the tubes of the conducting zone contain?
Anatomical dead space - no gas exchange occurs
What are the components of the lining of the respiratory tract?
Epithelium, glands, lymph nodes, blood vessels, cilia and mucous
What is the function of mucous?
Trap pathogens and to moisten air
What are the two categories of pneumocytes?
Type 1 - Gas transfer
Type 2 - Surfactant releasing
What is the typical distribution of the types of pneumocytes?
97% type 1
Describe the lobular nature of the lungs
Right lung - three lobes
Left lung - two lobes (cardiac notch makes it smaller)
What does the horizontal fissure separate?
The superior and middle lobe of the right lung
What does the oblique lung fissure separate?
Middle lobe from inferior lobe in right lung
Superior from inferior lobe in left lung
What are the four Gas Laws and outline Boyle’s Law
Boyle’s Law - the relationship between the pressure of a gas an the volume of the system is directly inverse
Other laws include daltons law, Henrys law and Charles’ law
Describe the visceral pleural membrane?
Coats the inner surface of the lung
Describe the parietal pleural membrane?
Coats the outer surface of the lungs
What exists between the two pleura? What is its function?
Pleural fluid, sticks the lungs to the rib cage
What is pleurisy?
Inflammation of the pleura
What are the three relevant pressures in the lungs?
- Intra-thoracic (Alveolar) pressure - (Pa)
- Intra-pleural pressure (Pip)
- Transpulmonary pressure (Pt)
Describe intra-thoracic pressure?
Pressure inside the thoracic cavity (essentially pressure inside the lungs) - may be both negative or positive compared to atmospheric pressure
Describe intra-pleural pressure
Pressure inside the pleural cavity - always negative
Describe transpulmonary pressure
Pressure differential between the alveolar and intra-pleural pressure - always positive
What is the definition of anatomical dead space?
Approx. 150ml of air in the conducting airways and not available for gas transfer
What is the definition of TV?
Tidal volume - the average volume of air on each inhalation/expiration on rest
What is the definition of ERV?
Expiratory reserve volume - the maximum volume of air expelled from the lungs at the end of a normal expiration
What is the definition of IRV?
Inspiratory reserve volume - the maximum amount of air that can be drawn into the lungs at the end of a normal inspiration
What is the definition of RV?
Residual volume - The volume of gas in the lungs at the end of a maximal expiration
What is the definition of VC?
Vital capacity -
TV + IRV + ERV
What is the definition of TLC?
Total Lung Capacity -
Vital capacity + residual volume
What is the definition of IC?
Inspiratory capacity
Tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume
What is the definition of FRC?
Forced Residual Capacity
Expiratory reserve volume + residual volume
What is the definition of FEV1?
Forced expiratory volume in one second
What is the definition of FEV1:FVC?
Fraction of forced vital capacity expelled in one second
What is pulmonary (minute) ventilation?
The amount of air breathed in and out during one minute
What is alveolar ventilation?
Fresh air getting to the alveoli and therefore available for gas exchange
What is the typical tidal volume?
500ml
What is the typical inspiratory reserve volume?
3L
What is the typical expiratory reserve volume?
1.1L
What is the typical reserve volume?
1.2L
What is the typical vital capacity?
4.6L
How is alveolar ventilation measured?
Tidal volume -Anatomical dead space (150ml) multiplied by breath rate
What is the typical alveolar ventilation?
4.2L.min^-1
How is partial pressure determined?
Dalton’s Law tells us partial pressure is equal to the percentage of the given gas as a proportion of total atmospheric pressure
What is surfactant?
Detergent like fluid secreted by type II pneumocytes
What is the function of surfactant?
To reduce the surface tension on alveolar surface membranes and therefore reduce its tendency to collapse
What is surface tension?
A phenomenon that occurs at air-water interfaces and refers to the attraction between water molecules
What is the overall effect of surfactant on the compliance of the lung
Increases
What is the Law of LaPlace?
Shows the relationship between pressure and a equation of surface tension and radius of the alveoli
What is the equation of the law of LaPlace?
P=2T/r
How does the law of LaPlace marry the different pressures in differently sized alveoli and what role does surfactant play?
Smaller alveoli have higher pressures, surfactant reduces surface tension and the pressure is equalised
What are the gestational milestone for surfactant production?
25 week - begins
Complete at 36
What hormone stimulates surfactant production in foetuses?
Thyroid and cortisol
When babies are born prematurely what pathology can rise to do with incomplete surfactant development
Infant respiratory distress syndrome
What is compliance?
A measure of the change in volume relative to the pressure change
What is meant by high compliance?
Large increase in volume for a small decrease in pressure
What is meant by low compliance?
Small increase in volume for a large increase in pressure
Describe the pressure-volume relationship
It requires a greater change in pressure to reach a particular volume because the word done during inspiration is recovered in elastic recoil for expiration
Describe the pressure-volume relationship associated with emphysema
Loss of elastic tissue means expiration requires effort
Describe the pressure volume relationship associated with fibrosis
Inert fibrous tissue means effort of inspiration increases