Respiration - Ventilation (V) & Perfusion (Q) Relationship Flashcards
What is ventilation?
Process by which air moves in and out of lung.
What is perfusion?
Process by which deoxygenated blood passes through the lung and becomes oxygenated
What is the V/Q ratio?
ratio of ventilation to blood flow.
Why is ventilation not uniformly distributed in the lungs?
gravity
How does gravity affect the lungs?
pulls lungs down and away from chest wall
What is the distribution of ventilation in the lungs (in terms of pressure and volume) ?
In upright position, alveoli in apex more expanded than at base (increased volume). due to compression and weight at base
pleural pressure (Ppl) more negative at apex than at base.
transpulmonary pressure (PL) is greater at apex than at base.
What affects distribution of ventilation apart from gravity?
compliance (C) & resistance (R) affect distribution of ventilation.
What is compliance?
how much effort is required to stretch the lungs and chest wall.
What does high compliance mean?
the lungs and chest wall expand easily.
What pulmonary conditions is decreased compliance a factor in?
Scarring in lung tissue (tuberculosis)
Lung filled with fluid (edema)
Deficiency in surfactant production
Destruction of elastic fibres (emphysema)
What is resistance?
any narrowing or obstruction of the airway that may reduce airflow.
What do larger diameter airways mean?
decreased resistance
What pulmonary conditions is increased resistance a factor in?
Asthma
COPD- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema, chronic
bronchitis) due to obstruction or collapse of airways.
What are the two types of dead space?
anatomical
physiological
What is anatomical dead space?
volume of gas during each breath that fills the conducting airways.
What is physiological dead space?
total volume of gas in each breath that does not participate in gas exchange, e.g., alveolar + anatomical (ventilated but not perfused)
In healthy individuals, the physiological dead space is typically less than 30% of the tidal volume