Respiratory Physiology Lecture 2 Flashcards
What does Boyle’s Law state?
The pressure and volume of a gas are inversely related
P1*V1 = P2*V2
A decrease in PIP causes the lungs to ______
expand
What does Henry’s Law state?
The amount of gas that dissolves into a fluid is related to:
- solubility of the gas into that fluid
- Temperature of the fluid
- Partial pressure of the gas
What does Dalton’s Law state?
The total pressure of a gas mixture is equal to the sum of the pressures that each gas exerts independently
Ex: PB = PO2 + PN2……
What are normal atmospheric pressure (PB) as well as partial pressures of N2 (PN2) and O2 (PO2)?
PB: 760 mm Hg
PN2: 600 mm Hg (~79%)
PO2: 160 mm Hg (~21%)
PO2 = ?
PO2 = PB * FO2
(FO2 = fraction of O2)
What happens to PB, PO2, and FO2 when elevation increases? Why?
PB: decreases
PO2: decreases
FO2: no change
Gravity is decreased at higher elevations, which causes pressures to decrease.
What is the purpose of your lungs diluting gas with water vapor during inspiration?
Keeps alveoli moist; Decrease PO2 without changing the percentage of O2
VE = ?
VE = VT * f
VE = total ventilation (mL/min)
VT = tidal volume (mL/breath)
f = respiratory rate or frequency (breaths/min)
What is a normal total ventilation at rest?
~6000 mL/min
500 mL/breath * 12 breaths/min
What are the two types of dead space? How are they different?
Anatomical dead space: in conducting airways (~150 mL) prior to alveoli
Alveolar dead space: alveoli with poor circulation (varies); lethal in diseased lungs
VA = ?
VA = (VT - VD) * f
VA = alveolar ventilation (more important than VE)
VT = tidal volume
VD = anatomic dead space
f = respiratory rate
What is a normal alveolar ventilation?
~4200 mL/min
(500 mL/breath - 150 mL) * 12 breaths/min
What happens to alveolar ventilation during shallow, rapid breathing?
Decreases drastically (“wasted ventilation”)
What is the best way to increase alveolar ventilation?
By increasing tidal volume
What is PaCO2?
Partial pressure of CO2 in arterial blood
What happens to PaCO2 during hyperventilation (increase VA)?
Decreases
What happens to PaCO2 during hypoventilation (VA decreases)?
Increases
Changing VA is the mechanism for regulating _____? (2)
PaCO2
pH
What are some reasons as to why VA would not be adequate to overcome high PaCO2? (2)
Not enough ventilation (CNS depression or respiratory muscle weakness)
Too much ventilation ending up as dead space ventilation (COPD or rapid, shallow breathing)
If PaCO2 is > 45 mmHg, what happens to the blood and alveolar ventilation?
Blood: Hypercapnia
VA: Hypoventilation
If PaCO2 is 35-45 mmHg, what happens to the blood and alveolar ventilation?
Blood: eucapnia
VA: normal
If PaCO2 is < 35 mmHg, what happens to the blood and alveolar ventilation?
Blood: hypocapnia
Alveolar ventilation: hyperventilation
What is the alveolar gas equation?
Measures partial pressure of a gas in an alveolus
Ex: PAO2 = PIO2 - PACO2 / R
PIO2 = PO2 in
PACO2 = PO2 leaving alveoli
R = ratio of CO2 to O2 exchanged in alveoli (assume 0.8)
What is PO2 under the following conditions?
Ambient air (dry)
Moist tracheal air
Alveolar gas (R = 0.8)
Systemic arterial blood
Mixed venous blood
Ambient air (dry): 159 mmHg
Moist tracheal air: 150 mmHg
Alveolar gas (R = 0.8): 102 mmHg
Systemic arterial blood: 90 mmHg
Mixed venous blood: 40 mmHg
What is PCO2 for the following conditions:
Ambient air (dry)
Moist tracheal air
Alveolar gas (R = 0.8)
Systemic arterial blood
Mixed venous blood
Ambient air (dry): 0 mmHg
Moist tracheal air: 0 mmHg
Alveolar gas (R = 0.8): 40 mmHg
Systemic arterial blood: 40 mmHg
Mixed venous blood: 46 mmHg
Why does PACO2 = PaCO2?
CO2 has a high diffusibility
What are the two circulations that the lungs receive? What do they do?
Pulmonary circulation: perfuse alveoli for gas exchange; arises from RV; receives 100% of RV output
Bronchial circulation: meet the needs of the lung (similar to coronaries for the heart); arises from aorta; 2% of LV output
Pulmonary blood flow has _____ flow and _____ pressure.
High flow (5 L/min)
Low pressure (25/8 mmHg)
What factors contribute to a very compliant, low resistance pulmonary circulation which relies on a weak pump (RV)? (4)
Pulmonary arteries are shorter and more dilated
Pulmonary arterioles are thin-walled (less smooth muscle & tone)
More distensible (7x more compliant)
Enormous number of capillaries, in unique arrangement to create sheets of blood flow past alveoli (resistors in parallel)
What three factors alter pulmonary vascular resistance?
Changes in blood flow (perfusion)
Changes in lung volume
Changes in local O2 concentrations
What happens to pulmonary blood flow and resistance during times of increased cardiac output (exercise)?
Increased pulmonary blood flow
Decreased resistance
What happens to pulmonary blood flow and resistance during times of low cardiac output (heart failure)?
Decreased pulmonary blood flow
Increased resistance