Respratory system Flashcards
how do lungs adhere to chest wall?
adhered by intrapleural fluid
what kind of pressure is generated in the intrapleural space because of the difference in elastic recoil between chest wall and lungs?
negative pressure is generated relative to atmospheric pressure
what is transpulmonary pressure?
the pressure difference between the alveoli and pleural cavity
what is the change in P(ip) during inspiration?
P(ip) changes from -4mmHg to -7mmHg
what happens to P(alv) in mid-inspiration?
P(alv) changes from 0 to -1mmHg
what is the change in P(tp) during inspiration?
P(tp) changes from 4 to 7mmHg
what is P(alv) at the end of inspiration?
P(alv) = 0mmHg
what is the primary cause of expiration? and how does this cause air to move out of lungs?
expiration is a passive process and occurs via elastic recoil of the lungs, shrinking thorax and thus increasing pressure so air moves out of lungs
what is alveolar volume? (and its value in mL)
alveolar volume = tidal volume - anatomic dead space
= 500-150 = 350ml
what is alveolar dead space?
part of alveolar volume in alveoli which are inadequately perfused with blood
what is physiological deadspace?
physiological dead space = anatomical deadspace + alveolar deadspace
minute ventilation eqauation
minute ventilation = tidal volume x frequency of breathing
dead space ventilation equation
deadspace ventilation = deadspace x frequency of breathing
alveolar ventilation equation
alveolar ventilation= (tidal volume - deadspace) x frequency of breathing
effect of deep slow breathing on alveolar ventilation and dead space
deep slow breathing:
- dead space ventilation decreases
- alveolar ventilation increases overall
effect of breathing through snorkel on alveolar ventilation and deadspace
breathing through snorkel:
- increase in deadspace, due to volume of snorkel itself
- minute ventilation increases
- alveolar ventilation remains the same
effect of fast and shallow breathing on alveolar ventilation and deadspace
fast and shallow breathing:
- minute ventilation decreases
- deadspace ventilation increases
- no alveolar ventilation occurs
how is lung compliance measured?
measured by the change in volume for a given change in pressure
disadvantages if a highly compliant lung?
- reduced elastic recoil
- inefficient passive recoil of lungs
- expiratory muscle activity may be required even in quiet breathing
advantages of a highly compliant lung?
- easy to inflate the lung
- little respiratory muscle activity required
what causes emphysema?
destruction of alveoli, alveoli with large air spaces
what characterizes emphysema?
- high compliance of lungs
- little elastic recoil
- lungs tend to remain inflated
- exploratory muscle activity is required to deflate the lungs
disadvantages of low compliant lung
- difficult to inflate the lung
- string inspiratory muscle activity required
advantages of low compliant lung
- elastic recoil of the lung is high and can recoil passively during expiration