Respiratory Control Of Breathing Flashcards
Define hypercapnia
Abnormally high carbon dioxide concentration in the blood
Define hypoxia
Deficiency of oxygen in tissues
Define hypocapnia
Abnormally low concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood
Define hyperventilation
Breathing at an abnormally rapid rate at rest
Ventilation changes with no change in metabolism
Define Hypoventilation
Breathing at an abnormally shallow and slow rate
What is the effect of hypo and hyperventilation on carbon dioxide concentration in the blood?
Hypoventilation - increases carbon dioxide concentration, decreases pH
Hyperventilation - decreases carbon dioxide concentration, increases pH
What is respiratory failure?
When not enough oxygen enters the blood
When not enough carbon dioxide leaves the blood
Don’t necessarily have to occur together
What is type I respiratory failure?
Not enough oxygen enters the blood but carbon dioxide removal is normal
Low oxygen, normal or low carbon dioxide
What is type II respiratory failure?
When not enough oxygen enters the blood and not enough carbon dioxide leaves the blood
pO2 in arterial blood is low
pCO2 is high
What happens to carbon dioxide and oxygen in hyperventilation?
pCO2 will fall
pO2 will rise
What can severe hyperventilation lead to?
Rise in pH
Respiratory alkalosis
Lethal tetany because free calcium concentration falls
Why does an increase in pH cause tetany?
Calcium is only soluble in acid
Leaves blood when pH rises
Nerves become hyperexcitable
What happens in hypoventilation?
pCO2 rises and pO2 falls
If pH falls below 7.0, enzymes become lethally denatured
Define respiratory acidosis
When lungs cannot remove enough carbon dioxide produced by the body, causing a fall in pH
Define respiratory alkalosis
Wher hyperventilation raises blood pH
Associated with hypocapnia
Define compensated respiratory acidosis
When respiratory acidosis persists, kidneys respond to low pH by reducing excretion of HCO3-, thus restoring ratio of CO2:HCO3
Define compensated respiratory alkalosis
When respiratory alkalosis persists, kidneys respond to high pH by excreting HCO3 and restoring ratio of CO2:HCO3
Takes 2-3 days