Respiratory + Cardiovascular System Flashcards
What is the reason for extensive branching in the lungs
Increases surface area for gas exchange
Why are alveolus covered in surfactant
Lowers the surface tension fo the alveoli and facilitates gas exchange
Reduced surface tension allows them to remain inflated when the lung is compressed during exhalation
What prevents lungs from collapsing, what causes them to collapse
Pressure differential between the intrapleural space and the lungs
When air enters the intrapleural space the lung collapses because the pressure inside increases
What is negative pressure breathing
When we inhale the diaphragm moves down and the volume of the thoracic cavity is increased causing a reduced pressure compared to the external environement so they fill with air
How is alveolar gas exchange considered passive diffusion
In the lungs the partial pressure of oxygen is higher than in the deoxygenated blood so O2 diffuses into the capillaries until equilibrium is reached
In the lungs the partial pressure of carbon dioxide is lower than that of deoxygenated blood so the CO2 diffuses into the alveoli
What are the 5 functions of the lungs
Gas exchange
Thermoregulation
Protection against disease and particulate matter
Acid base regulation
Be able to trace a simplified circulatory pathway in your head
Vena cava to right atrium through tricuspid valve to right ventricle Pulmonary artery to lung Pulmonary vein the left atrium Left atrium to left ventricle Aorta into the body
Systole vs diastole
Systole - ventricles contract
Diastole - ventricles relax
Difference between arteries, arterioles, and capillaries
Arteries move blood and are innervated by the SNS
Arteriolies have more smooth muscle and are most involved in regulating blood pressure
Capillaries have no smooth muscle but very large surface area used for nutrient and gas exchange
Explain microcirculation***
Along a capillary the osmotic pressure DOESNT CHANGE and the hydrostatic pressure DECREASES
At first hydrostatic pressure is greater and so the fluid flows out of the capillary into the interstitium
At then venule end hydrostatic pressure is less so there is a net flow of fluid back into the capillary
About 10% of fluid is lost to the interstitium which travels to the lymphatic system
How are veins and venules different from ateries and arterioles
Lumen is larger and less smooth muscle so less pressure
How does blood velocity change according to surface area
Decreases from arteries (smallest surface area) to capillaries (largest surface area)
Increases in veins
How does blood pressure change
Decreases from arteries to capillaries (larger surface area) then constant in the veins
How is oxygen transported
Hemoglobin which contains 4 heme groups that can bind to one molecule of oxygen
Binding of oxygen at the first heme group induces a conformational change which facilitates the binding of more oxygen at the other heme groups called cooperative binding
Difference between cooperative non cooperative and negative cooperativity
Positive - binding of ligand is enhanced if other ligands already present n >1
Noncooperative - only has one binding site n = 1
Negative cooperativity - binding of subsequent ligand occurs with less affinity n <1
What happens to the ph when lots of CO2 is present in the body
Decreases due to more hydrogen ions that are produced
How is carbon dioxide transported in the body
Carbon dioxide in the peripheral tissue diffuses into the erythrocyte to combine with water and form carbonic acid
Dissociates into bicarbonate ion and hydrogen ion
Bicarbonate goes to lungs
HCO3 reassociates with H in the erythrocyte to form carbonic acid and then CO2 and water
Basically goes from carbon dioxide to hydrogen and bicarbonate so ph decreases
Explain the Bohr effect
When high concentrations of CO2, H and HCO3 form
The H ion binds to hemoglobin releasing O2 in the peripheral tissue
The hemoglobinH picks up CO2
