Respiration and Ventilation II Flashcards
Features of Alveoli Structure
Elastic Fibres around alveoli to aid passive recoil on exhalation
Capillary beds surround alveoli for high gas exchange
Smooth muscle around the terminal bronchiole to allow for bronchodilation/constriction
Thin cells walls for efficient gas exchange
Features of Alveolar Epithelium
Simple Squamous Epithelium
Consists of thin pneumocytes
Patrolled by dust cells (alveolar macrophages)
Contains septal cells that produce surfactant
Henry’s Law Definition
When gas under pressure comes in contact with liquid, gas dissolves in liquid until equilibrium is reached
Gas volume is proportional to partial pressure of gas
5 Reasons for Efficiency of Gas Exchange
Substantial Differences in partial pressure across respiratory membrane
Short exchange distances
O2/CO2 are lipid soluble
Total Surface Area = Large
Blood Flow and Airflow are coordinated
Partial Pressures in Alveolar Air/Capillaries
Blood arriving has Low PO2 (40) and High PCO2 (45)
Alveoli Air has High PO2 (100) and Low PCO2 (40)
Concentration gradient causes O2 to enter and CO2 to leave blood
Partial Pressures in Systemic Circuit
Oxygenated/Deoxygenated Blood mix from conducting pathways
Lowers the PO2 of blood entering systemic system (drops to 95)
Interstitial Fluid Partial Pressure
PO2 = 40
PCO2 = 45
Concentration gradient in peripheral capillaries is opposite to lungs
Function of Red Blood Cells
Transport O2 and CO2 to and from peripheral tissue
Remove O2 and CO2 from plasma, as plasma cant transport enough O2/CO2 to meet physiological needs
Features of RBC
No nucleus for more O2 storage
Concave structure for more efficient gas exchange
2 Types of Capillary
Pulmonary - O2 pickup away from alveoli
Systemic - O2 delivery towards alveoli
Haemoglobin Features
4 polypeptide structure
4 heme groups - bind to O2
Binding of O2 leads to conformational change in Hb to allow for more efficient O2 pickup
3 Types of Haemoglobin
Oxyhaemoglobin (HbO2)
Deoxyhaemoglobin (without O2)
Carbaminohaemoglobin (bound to CO2 after O2 dissociation)
Shape of Oxygen-Hb Saturation Curve
Sigmoid Curve
Higher PO2 results in greater Hb Saturation
Curve shown due to Hb changing shape each time O2 binds to it
Allows for Hb to bind to O2 at low O2 levels
Temperature and Hb Saturation Relationship
As Temp increases, Hb releases more O2, therefore lower O2 association
Significant in active tissues , e.g. active skeletal muscle
As Temp increases, sigmoid curve is shallower
pH and Hb Saturation Relationship
As pH increases, O2 association is higher
Due to Bohr Effect
