Resp: Physiology Flashcards
What is ventilation?
The process of inspiration and expiration
What is the tidal volume?
The volume of air which enters and leaves the lungs with each breath
Can the lungs be emptied completely?
No. Residual volume will remain
What is the physiological dead space?
Air in alveoli which are not perfused or are damaged do not take part in gas exchange, and ventilation of these alveoli are wasted
What are the lung capacities defined by?
Maximum inspiration
Maximum expiration
End of a quiet expiration
What is the volume of the conducting airways termed as?
Anatomical dead space
What is the equation for the total dead space?
Anatomical dead space + Physiological dead space
What is the equation for tidal volume?
Anatomical dead space + alveolar ventilation
What is the equation for total pulmonary ventilation?
Tidal volume X respiratory rate
What is the equation for the alveolar ventilation?
(Tidal volume - Dead space) X Respiratory rate
What is the inward force acting on the lung at rest?
The lung’s elasticity and surface tension generate an inwardly directed force that favours small lung volumes
What is the outward force acting on the lung at rest?
The muscles and various connective tissues associated with the rib cage also have elasticity. At rest these elastic elements favour outward movement of the chest wall.
What is the result of the inward and out ward force acting on the lung at rest?
They balance each other and create a negative pressure within the intrapleural space relative to atmospheric pressure
How does inspiration occur?
- Contraction of the diaphragm and the external intercostal muscles expands the thoracic cavity outward from equilibrium position
- Pleural seal ensure that the lungs expand along with the thorax.
- Lung volume increase so air pressure within the lungs fall below atmospheric pressure. Air flows into the lungs
What happens in (quiet) expiration?
- Muscle contraction ceases
- Elastic recoil of the lung results in the thoracic cavity and lung returning to the original position
- Passive process
What ensures that the chest wall and lung move together?
-Surface tension due to fluid lining the pleural space which holds the outer surface of the lungs to the inner surface of the chest wall. This ensure that the chest wall and lungs move together.
What happens to the intrapleural pressure during inspiration?
The intrapleural pressure becomes more negative and returns to resting pressure at the end of quiet expiration
What are the muscle of quiet inspiration?
- Diaphragm
- External Intercostal muscles
What muscles are involved in quiet expiration?
None!
Due to elastic recoil
Which muscles are involved in forced inspiration?
Accessory muscles of inspiration.
- Sternocleidomastoid
- Scalene
- Serratus anterior
- Pectoralis major
What muscles are used in forced expiration
- Internal intercostal muscles
- Abdominal wall muscles
What is the stretchiness of the lung known as?
Compliance
What is compliance defined as?
Volume change per unit pressure change
What contributes to the elastic properties of the lung?
- Elastic tissue in the lungs
- Surface tension forces of fluid lining the alveoli
What is contained in the alveolar lining fluid?
Surfactant
What is the purpose of surfactant?
- Reduce surface tension thereby increasing lung compliance
- Stabilise the lungs by preventing small alveoli collapsing into big ones
- Prevents the surface tension in alveoli creating a suction force tending to cause transudation fluid from pulmonary
How does surfactant increase surface tension as the alveolus expands?
Surfactant molecules spread further apart making them less efficient