Respiratory L2: Respiratory Mechanics Flashcards
Both lungs are surrounded by a closed chamber. What is this called?
“pleural sac” or intrapleural space.
- Has fluid inside
How do we breathe? Humans are ________+ve/-ve breathers.
- –ve type breathers- don’t actively push air into lungs
- Create lower than atmospheric pressure in lungs
What is the parietal pleura?
surrounds ribcage and diaphragm
What is the visceral pleura?
surrounds both lungs
Alveolar surface tension is responsible for the __________ gradient and the _______________ pressure.
transmural pressure; at rest lower-than-atmospheric intrapleural
The _____________ prevents the lungs from collapsing. If the intrapleural pressure is allowed to equalise with the atmospheric pressure, visceral and parietal pleurae separate and the lung collapses resulting in a ______.
transmural pressure gradient; pneumothorax
Lower than atmospheric pressure in pleural cavity due to lungs wanting to _______ (expand/collapse) (alveoli surface tension= driving force for lung recoil) –> pulls visceral pleural _____ (inwards/outwards) –> ________ (increased/decreased) intra-pleural space –> ____ (increase/decrease) pressure –> pulls parietal pleural _______ (inwards/outwards) –> pulls ribs/ribcage _____ (inwards/outwards) (bent in)
collapse; inwards; increased; decreased; inwards; inwards
All stops when ___________ = __________. Lower than atmospheric pressure in intrapleural space
lungs wanting to collapse; ribs wanting to spring out
A decrease in pulmonary surfactant molecule results in a decrease of _________.
Intra-pleural pressure (pulls in more)
What causes a collapsed lung? 6 steps.
- Injury to parietal pleural
- lower than atmospheric pressure begins to equalise to atmospheric pressure
- nothing holds lungs from collapsing
- alveoli collapse
- rib cage springs out
- collapse lung
When a lung is collapsed, what is different about the space between the parietal and visceral pleura?
In a normal healthy lung = no “space” (only called that)
In a collapsed lung = renal space between the parietal and visceral lung
What are the 7 steps of inspiration in quiet breathing?
- Lowering the diaphragm (connect to parietal)
- pulls parietal pleural
- decreased intrapleural pressure
- pulls visceral pleural apart
- intra-alveolar pressure falls below atmospheric pressure
- air flows into lungs
- inflates lungs
What are the 6 steps of expiration in quiet breathing?
- Relaxation of the diaphragm
- exhalation (passive)
- intrapleural pressure returns to the normal lower than atmospheric pressure.
- recoil of the lung
- lower than atmospheric intra-alveolar pressure
- air moves out of the lungs.
How does forced expiration in quiet breathing occur? What muscles are responsible?
- Intercostals and abdominal muscles are used
- push diaphragm upwards (pressure in intra-pleural space)
- push alveoli
- flatten rib cage
- forced expiration
What are 2 things that airflow rate is dependent on?
- pressure gradient
- airway resistance
What is airway resistance dependent on?
Due to friction along the wall of the airways
Depends mostly on the diameter of the airway.
Increased pressure in the airways = ____ (increased/decreased) airflow
Increased
Air molecules flow ___ (towards/against) vessel walls. This _____ (increases/decreases) the friction and the airflow rate ______(speeds up/slows down).
against; increases; slows down
Smaller vessels have ____ (more/less) air molecules
More
Larger vessels have ____ (more/less) air molecules
Less