respiratory physiology Flashcards
what innervates the smooth muscle of the airways to cause bronchoconstriction?
- branches of the vagus nerve
- parasympathetic
where does the vagus nerve terminate?
- parasympathetic ganglia in airway wall
- short post-ganglionic cholinergic fibres reach smooth muscle
what neurotransmitter does bronchoconstriction occur via?
ACh
what receptors does ACh act upon to cause bronchoconstriction?
muscarinic M3 receptors on muscle cells
what division of the nervous system causes bronchodilation?
sympathetic
what is the path of the nerve fibres that cause bronchodilation?
- originate from spinal cord
- terminate in ganglia near spinal cord
- long post-ganglionic fibre goes directly to blood vessels
and some smooth muscle cells - acts on adrenergic receptors (alpha and beta)
- releases noradrenaline
what does activation of beta-2 receptors cause?
- on airway smooth muscle
- causes muscle relaxation- activates adenylate cyclase which produces cyclic AMP
why is the sympathetic effect on airway tone weak compared to parasympathetic?
fewer sympathetic nerve fibres penetrate the lung parenchyma
what drugs can be used to treat bronchoconstriction?
- anti-muscarinics
- LAMAs
what drugs can be used to reduce bronchodilation?
- SABAs
LABAs
what are the key features of muscarinic receptors?
- use G proteins as a signalling mechanism
- found on all effector cells stimulated by postganglionic cholinergic neurons of PNS/ SNS
what are key features of nicotinic receptors?
- lignand-gated ion channels
- found in autonomic ganglia of PNS and SNS
- present at neuromuscular junctions in skeletal muscle
what does vasodilation lead to?
exudation of plasma- including antibodies
where is acute inflammation initiated?
- tissues containing specialist macrophages
- e.g. kupffer cells and alveolar macrophages
what do specialist macrophages respond to?
- PAMPs (pathogen- associated molecular patterns)
- DAMPs (damage- associated molecular patterns)
how do we recognise pathogens we have never seen before?
pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs)
what are the functions of alveolar macrophages?
- microbial killing
- co-ordination of inflammatory response via cytokine production
- link to adaptive immune responses
what suppresses alveolar macrophages?
respiratory epithelium
what are neutrophils formed from?
myeloid cells
what are the functions of neutrophils?
- identify threat- via receptors
- activation of pathways
- adhesion via integrins
- chemotaxis- move along concentration gradients
- phagocytosis
- bacterial killing
what is the function of Clara cells?
secrete lipoproteins- prevents luminal adhesion
what secretes surfactant?
type 2 pneumocytes
what are the functions of surfactant?
- reduces alveolar surface tension
- prevent collapse of alveoli during expiration
- facilitates expansion during inspiration
what is the composition of mucus?
lyoszymes, immunoglobulins, glycoproteins, water, dead leukocytes, inorganic salts
what are the 2 types of adaptive immunity?
- humoral- B lymphocytes produce antibodies
- cell- mediated- T lymphocytes are activated
what is immune tolerance?
state of unresponsiveness of the immune system to substances or tissue that have the capacity to elicit an immune response (e.g. self-antigens, pregnancy or cancer)
what are the 2 types of tolerance?
- central- auto reactive clones are deleted by thymic epithelial cells
- peripheral- auto reactive clones escaping central tolerance are suppressed by T suppressor cells
what does the apneustic centre do?
stimulates dorsal and ventral respiratory group
what does the pneumotaxic centre do?
sends inhibitory signals to the dorsal respiratory group- allows respiratory rate to be controlled
what does the dorsal respiratory group do?
controls the rhythm of breathing- triggers inspiratory impulses in external intercostals
what does the ventral respiratory group do?
activated in times of stress/ exercise when forced expiration is required- controls the accessory muscles
what is an SASR?
- mechanoreceptor
- slow adapting stretch receptor
- found in smooth muscle of airway
- inhibits further inspiration
what is an RASR?
- rapid adapting stretch receptor
- found between airway epithelial cells
- activated by lung distention and irritants
what are C-fibres?
- located in small airways, blood vessels and interstitial tissues between pulmonary capillaries and alveolar walls
- unmyelinated sensory nerve fibres
what are J-fibres?
- found in lung parenchyma
- activated by increased interstitial fluid
- cause increased respiratory rate- results in decreased oxygenation
- innervated by vagus fibres