Respiration Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

At rest; what is the arterial partial pressure of oxygen?

A

100mmHg.

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2
Q

At rest; what us the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide?

A

40mmHg

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3
Q

What is present in the trachea that traps inhaled particles?

A

Goblet cells secrete mucus which traps particles. Mucus removed out of the system by rhythmic beating of the cilia.

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4
Q

What volume is ventilated at rest?

A

6L/min

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5
Q

What is the maximum ventilation volume?

A

160L/min

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6
Q

How far does the diaphragm contract in quiet breathing?

A

1cm

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7
Q

Describe inspiration of quiet breathing.

A

Active.

External intercostals pull ribs outwards and upwards.

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8
Q

Describe expiration of quiet breathing.

A

Passive

Elastic recoil

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9
Q

How far does the diaphragm contract in strenuous breathing?

A

10cm

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10
Q

Describe inspiration of strenuous breathing.

A

Active

Accessory muscles activated e.g. sternocleidomastoid and alae nasi

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11
Q

Describe expiration of strenuous breathing.

A

Active

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12
Q

Describe the relationship between volume and pressure.

A

Inversely related.

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13
Q

What pleural and alveolar pressure do the lungs need to be before air can move in?

A

Negative

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14
Q

What is function residual capacity

A

Volume of air in the lung after quiet breathing.

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15
Q

What is the resting tidal volume of the lungs?

A

500ml

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16
Q

How is vital capacity measured?

A

Breathe in to the max, breathe out to the max. As quick as possible.

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17
Q

How are lung volumes measured?

A

Vitalograph or spirogram.

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18
Q

In a healthy individual what is the FEV1/FVC ratio?

A

70-80% in the first second.

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19
Q

In an individual with COPD; what is the FEV1/FVC ratio?

A

<70%

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20
Q

What is atmospheric pressure?

A

760mmHg

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21
Q

What are conducting airways?

A

Anatomical dead space, non-respiratory bronchioles don’t participate in gas exchange.

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22
Q

What are respiratory airways?

A

Alveoli present on the bronchioles, therefore gas exchange occurs.

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23
Q

Name some characteristics of the alveoli. (3)

A

Elastic recoil.
Thin walled.
Large surface area.

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24
Q

What are alveolar cells composed of?

A

Type 1 and type 2 cells.

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25
Q

What are type 1 alveolar cells?

A

Primary site of gas exchange.

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26
Q

What are type 2 alveolar cells?

A

Produce pulmonary surfactant which reduces surface tension.

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27
Q

What does bronchial circulation supply blood to?

A

Lung parenchyma. (functional lung tissue in gas transfer)

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28
Q

What gas is easier to diffuse/more soluble?

A

CO2 diffuses easily.

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29
Q

In pulmonary blood circulation, what gas enters and what gas leaves?

A

Oxygen enters and C02 leaves.

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30
Q

In systemic blood circulation, what gas enters and what gas leaves?

A

C02 enters and Oxygen leaves.

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31
Q

What must the sum of partial pressure equal?

A

Total pressure.

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32
Q

What are the 2 ways oxygen can be transported around the body?

A

Dissolved.

Bound to haemoglobin.

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33
Q

What method is the primary mode of oxygen transport?

A

Bound to haemoglobin.

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34
Q

How many haem groups are in haemoglobin?

A

4

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35
Q

What compromises the protein globin?

A

2 Alpha and 2 beta chains.

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36
Q

What does the oxygen bind to in haemoglobin?

A

Iron molecule.

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37
Q

The process of oxygen binding to haemoglobin is…?

A

Reversible.

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38
Q

Initially haemoglobin affinity for oxygen is low, how does this change as it progresses?

A

When binding occurs, conformation changes happen to increase the affinity for oxygen.

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39
Q

Define oxygen saturation

A

The amount of oxygen bound to the haem group relative to the maximum amount that can bind.

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40
Q

how many molecules of oxygen can bind to haemoglobin?

A

4

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41
Q

How many mls of oxygen does 1g of haem combine with?

A

1.39mls

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42
Q

How many grams of haem is in normal blood circulation?

A

15g

43
Q

What is the respiratory exchange rate?

A

Expired carbon dioxide: Inhaled oxygen.

80: 100
0. 8

44
Q

In a healthy individual, how much CO2 is produced?

A

200ml/min

45
Q

What are the 3 ways C02 is transported?

A

Dissolved
Bound to haemoglobin
Bound to bicarbonate.

46
Q

What is formed when carbon dioxide binds to bicarbonate?

A

Carbonic acid.

47
Q

What enzyme catalyses the binding of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate?

A

Carbonic anhydrase.

48
Q

In systemic capillaries what direction is the bicarbonate equation pushed? Why?

A

Bicarbonate equation pushed to he right as there is lots of CO2/bicarbonate in systemic capillaries.

49
Q

What regulates bicarbonate concentration? How does this happen?

A

The kidneys via chemoreceptors.

50
Q

With regards to oxygen binding; what occurs in more acidic pH conditions?

A

Oxygen released from haemoglobin

51
Q

With regards to oxygen binding; what occurs in more alkaline pH conditions?

A

Tighter binding of oxygen to haemoglobin.

52
Q

With regards to oxygen binding; what occurs in higher temperatures?

A

Less oxygen bound to haemoglobin

53
Q

With regards to oxygen binding; what occurs in lower temperatures?

A

More oxygen bound to haemoglobin

54
Q

What structure is breathing controlled by?

A

Brainstem/medulla oblongata

55
Q

What factors modulate breathing? (3)

A

Voluntary control
Vocalisation (singing)
Emotional events (crying)

56
Q

List the neuronal controls of breathing.

A

Establishes a rhythm, no conscious action.

Responds to episodic non ventilatory behaviour, like speaking, eating etc.

57
Q

What is eupnea?

A

Normal rhythmic breathing.

58
Q

What is dyspnea?

A

Shortness of breath, conscious awareness of difficulty.

59
Q

What input does the brain receive in order to control breathing?

A

Mechanoreceptor input

Chemoreceptor input

60
Q

What is normal rhythmic breathing controlled by?

A

Respiratory related neurons

Central pattern generator

Frequency of CPG changes.

Respiratory motor neurons.

61
Q

What is the function of the CPG (central pattern generator)?

A

In brainstem: Independently generates respiratory rhythm.

62
Q

Respiratory motor neurons innervate respiratory muscles; how does this occur?

A

Axons in the phrenic nerve innervate contractions of the diaphragm.

63
Q

Where is the signal from chemoreceptors replayed back to in the brain?

A

The nucleus tractus solitarius.

brainstem

64
Q

Where are peripheral chemoreceptors found?

A

In the carotid sinus
(signal sent via CN9)

Aortic arch
(Signal sent via CN10)

65
Q

What do the peripheral chemorecetos respond to?

A

Hypoxia: Decrease in oxygen levels.

Response causes increased ventilation.

66
Q

What is hypercapnia?

A

Increased CO2

67
Q

Hyperventilation occurs If the concentration of oxygen in the blood falls beneath what value?

A

60mmHg.

68
Q

Where are central chemoreceptors found?

A

The brainstem

69
Q

When are the central chemoreceptors activated?

A

Hypercapnia: When Co2 increases.
or
when pH decreases.

70
Q

What gas (O2 or CO2) are individuals most sensitive to?

A

C02 increase.

71
Q

How do mechanoreceptors detect movement of the lung/chest wall?

A

Via pulmonary stretch receptors.

72
Q

Mechanoreceptor signals travel the nucleus tracts solitarus via what nerve?

A

Vagus (CN:10)

73
Q

Where are the receptors located that terminate inspiration (end of a single breath)?

A

Airway smooth muscle.

74
Q

Where are the receptors located that trigger a sigh?

A

Airway epithelium

75
Q

Describe how respiratory rhythm neurons are arranged in the brainstem.

A

Bilateral arrangement.

76
Q

Respiratory rhythm neutrons require…?

A

No stimuli

77
Q

What kind of neurons are contained within the dorsal aspect of the brain?

A

Inspiratory

78
Q

What kind of neurons are contained within the ventral aspect of the brain?

A

Inspiratory and expiratory neurons.

79
Q

What is the function of the pontine?

A

Modulates respiratory output.

80
Q

Voluntary control, e.g. breath holding, can be overridden by what?

A

Chemoreceptors.

81
Q

What is ventilation?

A

Process of air moving in and out of the lung.

82
Q

What is perfusion?

A

Process of deoxygenated blood passing through the lung and becoming oxygenated.

83
Q

Where in the lung are the alveoli most expanded (upright position)?

A

Apex

84
Q

Where in the lung is pleural pressure most negative?

A

Apex

85
Q

Where in the lung is the transpulmonary pressure greatest?

A

Apex

86
Q

What does compliance mean?

A

Ability to stretch

87
Q

In terms of compliance; describe the alveoli at the apex.

A

Alveoli at the apex are less compliant as they are already expanded.

88
Q

List reasons for reduced compliance.

A

Scaring of the lung tissue.

Reduced surfactant production.

Fluid in the lung

Emphysema: reduced elasticity of the lung.

89
Q

What conditions increase resistance within the lungs?

A

COPD:
Chronic bronchitis
Asthma

90
Q

Name the two types of dead space?

A

Anatomical

Physiological

91
Q

Define anatomical dead space.

A

Fills conducting airways.

92
Q

Define physiological dead space.

A

Reaches the alveoli yet no gas exchange occurs.

Alveoli perfused but not ventilated.

93
Q

What is the V/Q ratio?

A

Rate of ventilation to blood flow.

94
Q

In a healthy adult, what should the V/Q ratio be?

A

0.8

95
Q

What is an anatomical shunt?

A

Where arterial blood is shunted directly into venous blood, bypassing gas exchange by the alveoli.

96
Q

Where do most anatomical shunts occur?

A

In the heart via septal defects.

97
Q

What is a physiological shunt?

A

When air no longer reaches some alveoli.

98
Q

What is atelectasis?

A

Obstruction of alveoli as a result of; tumours, mucus build up, foreign bodies.

99
Q

Give 2 exams of a COPD?

A

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

100
Q

What are the symptoms/Signs of COPD?

A

Chronic cough
Shortness of breath
Tight chest
Increased mucous

101
Q

What is emphysema?

A

Lungs lose elasticity due to overinflation of the alveoli.

102
Q

What becomes an issue for those with emphysema?

A

Exhaling

103
Q

What is chronic bronchitis?

A

Inflamed and swollen bronchi. Mucus narrows the airways.

104
Q

What is pulmonary fibrosis?

A

Scarring and thickening of lung tissue = decreased elasticity and gas exchange.