Respiratory Physiology Lecture 1 Flashcards
What is the difference between ventilation and respiration?
Ventilation refers to the entire process of breathing in and out
Respiration is strictly the events involved in gas exchange
What is the difference between external respiration and internal respiration?
External respiration: exchange of O2 and CO2 between the atmosphere and body tissues
Internal respiration: use of O2 in generation of ATP by ox-phos; CO2 is the waste product
What are some of the nonrespiratory functions of the respiratory system? (7)
- Filters thrombi (clots) and emboli (fat or air) from the blood
- Metabolism (AngI -> AngII; produces surfactant)
- Shock absorber for the heart & enhances venous return
- Alter blood pH
- Route for water loss and heat elimination
- Blood reservoir (10% of total blood volume)
- Provide airflow for speech, singing, and other vocalizations
What is the purpose of cartilaginous rings and plates along the trachea and bronchi?
Prevent collapse of airway during pressure changes, coughing (increased pressure), etc
If bronchioles contain no cartilage, what physical characteristics keep them open to allow for gas exchange? (2)
Lung tissue parenchyma
Elasticity
How is airway diameter regulated? (2)
Smooth muscle innervation (ANS)
Circulating hormones and local chemicals
What are the components of the conducting zone? Why is it considered “anatomical dead space”?
Trachea & first 16 generations of airways
No alveoli, so no gas exchange
~150 mL
What are the components of the respiratory zone?
Last 7 generations of airways (only a few mm long)
~300 milion alveoli
~3 L
What are the functions of the conducting zone? (3)
Distribution of air evenly to deeper parts of the lungs
Warms (37 ℃), humidifies, and filters air
Defense (mucociliary escalator; macrophages)
What is the total surface area of alveoli?
60-80 m2
What are the functions of Type I and Type II alveolar cells?
Type I: simple squamous epithelia that allow for gas exchange
Type II: secrete surfactant
What is the function of Pores of Kohn?
Permit airflow between adjacent alveoli and connect one alveolus to the next (collateral ventilation)
What are the components of lung tissue parenchyma (4)? Which components contain smooth muscle?
airways (SM)
alveoli
blood vessels (SM)
elastic connective tissue
Describe the pleural sac.
Double-walled, closed sac:
Visceral wall covers surface of the lung
Parietal wall interacts with the inside of the thoracic cavity
Secretes intrapleural fluid (~1.5 mL) to lubricate pleural surfaces to adhere together
Define atmospheric (barometric) pressure (PB).
Pressure exerted by the weight of the air in the atmosphere
~760 mm Hg at sea level
Define intrapulmonary (alveolar) pressure (PA).
Pressure inside the alveoli
~760 mm Hg (or 0 mm Hg)
Define intrapleural pressure (PIP).
Pressure in the pleural fluid; normally less than intrapulmonary pressure
~756 mm Hg (-4 mm Hg)
Define transmural pressure (PT). Formula?
Pressure difference across the wall
(transpulmonary = across the lung wall)
PT= PA - PIP
Neither the thoracic wall nor lungs are in their “natural positions.” Which directions do each of these structures tend to pull?
Stretched lungs tend to recoil in
Compressed thoracic wall tends to recoil out
What two forces keep the lung and chest from pulling away from each other?
Transmural pressure gradient
Intrapleural fluid cohesiveness
PIP tends to be ______ during quiet breathing and deep inspiration. PIP tends to be ______ during forced expiration.
Negative; positive
Explain what happens during a pneumothorax (4).
Air enters the pleural space
PIP equilibrates with PB
Transpulmonary pressure gradient is lost and IPF alone cannot hold lungs and wall
Lungs and thorax separate and assume their “natural positions”
Define atelectasis
Collapse of alveoli
What do the following primary symbols denote?
P
V
F
Q
C
Physical quantities:
P = pressure, tension or partial pressure of a gas
V = volume of a gas
F = fractional concentration of a gas
Q = Volume of blood
C = content
What do the following secondary symbols denote?
A
a
B
D
E
I
ip
v
Location of the gas:
A = alveolar
a = arterial
B = barometric
D = dead space
E = expiratory
I = inspiratory
ip = pleural
v = venous
What does “•” denote?
Rate
Define pleurisy.
Inflammation of the pleural sac
What must occur in order to alter lung volume (3)
Respiratory muscles must change the size of the thoracic cavity
Overcome tissue elastance
Overcome surface tension within alveoli
If air flows down a pressure gradient, which direction is air flowing when PA < PB?
Air enters the lungs
If air flows down a pressure gradient, which direction is air flowing when PA > PB?
Air exits the lungs
Define Boyle’s Law. What is the equation for it?
The pressure and volume of a gas are inversely related.
As volume increases, pressure exerted by gas decreases proportionally
P1 * V1 = P2 * V2