Respiratory Physiology 3 Flashcards
Describe the term ventilation
Movement of air in and out of lungs
Can be described in two ways - pulmonary ventilation and alveolar ventilation
Describe pulmonary (minute) ventilation
Total air movement into/out of lungs - relatively insignificant
L/min
Describe Alveolar ventilation
Fresh air getting to alveoli so therefore available for gas exchange - more functionally significant
L/min
Percentage that tidal breathing is effective and why?
75%
When inhaling 500ml (tidal volume), only 350ml of fresh air enters the alveoli as 150ml of dead space stale air enters the alveoli. At end of the inspiration the dead space is filled with fresh air which is exhaled out with 350ml of air from the alveoli
What is hypoventilation
When the alveolar ventilation is lower (3000ml/min) than the normal 4200ml/min
Happens when someone has a low tidal volume and high respiratory rate
Total pulmonary ventilation is the same
What is hyperventilation
Alveolar ventilation is higher than normal (4800ml/min)
Larger Tidal volume of 750ml at a slower respiratory rate
Same total pulmonary ventilation
What id Dalton’s Law
States that total pressure of gas mixture is a sum of the individual gases
What does Partial Pressure mean
The pressure of a gas in the mixture of gases is equivalent to the percentage of that particular gas in the mixture multiplied by the pressure of the whole gaseous mixture
What happens to the alveolar ventilation during hyperventilation?
There is increased alveolar ventilation
Partial pressure of O2 rises to 120mm Hg and partial pressure of CO2 falls to 20mm Hg
What happens to alveolar ventilation during hypoventilation?
There is decreased alveolar ventilation
Partial pressure of O2 falls to 30mm Hg and partial pressure of CO2 rises to 100mg
What happens to the alveolar ventilation from the base of the lung to the apex of the lung?
Declines with height from base to the apex
Compliance is lower at the apex due to being more inflated at FRC. At the base the lungs are slightly compressed by the diaphragm hence more compliant on inspiration
What does the pulmonary artery carry?
Carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart and towards the lungs
What does the pulmonary vein carry?
Carries oxygenated blood away from the lungs and towards the heart
What is the bronchial circulation?
Supplied via pulmonary arteries arising from systemic circulation to supply oxygenated blood to the lung tissues.
Comprises 2% of left heart output. Blood drains to left atrium via pulmonary veins.
What is the pulmonary circulation?
Consists of Left and right arteries originating from the right ventricle. Entire cardiac output is from the RV. Supplies the dense capillary network surrounding the alveoli and returns oxygenated blood to the left atrium via the pulmonary vein
Is a high flow but low pressure system
Describe gas exchange at the alveoli and the tissues - partial pressure
Air diffuses across the membranes down partial pressure gradient
In alveoli: O2 moves from 100 - 40mm Hg and CO2 moves from 46 - 40 mm Hg
In tissues: opposite happens
What does the PACO2 mean?
Partial pressure of carbon dioxide in alveolar air
What does the PaO2 mean?
Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood