S2) Ventilation and Lung Mechanics Flashcards
Breathing rate and depth is controlled to allow for certain processes.
Identify 5 processes
- Eating/drinking
- Speech
- Defecation
- Parturition (giving birth)
- Change in metabolic requirements (sleep/exercise)
Which two structures both need to function to ensure healthy respiration?
- Lung parenchyma
- Respiratory airways
Inspiration is an active form of tidal breathing.
Describe the processes involved
- Diaphragm contracts and moves down
- Ext. intercostals contract and elevate ribs
- Thoracic cavity volume expands
- Intrapulmonary pressure decreases
- Intrathoracic pressure falls below atmospheric pressure and air flows in
Expiration is an passive form of tidal breathing.
Describe the processes involved
- Muscle contraction ceases
- Muscles relax
- Elastic recoil of the lungs results in return to the resting end-expiratory level
- Air flows out
What is resting expiratory level?
Resting expiratory level refers to the state of equilibrium in the respiratory system before you breathe in and after you breathe out
Identify and describe the forces acting on the lung at the equilibrium position at the end of quiet expiration
- Inward: lung’s elasticity and surface tension generate an inwardly directed force that favours small lung volumes
- Outward: elastic elements of muscles and various connective tissue associated with the rib favour the outward movement of the chest wall
Result = opposing forces balance each other and create a negative pressure gradient in intrapleural space
What is tidal volume?
Tidal volume is the lung volume representing the normal volume of air displaced between normal inhalation and exhalation when extra effort is not applied/ volume of air that enters and leaves the lungs with each breath
anatomical dead space + alveolar ventilation
What is inspiratory reserve volume?
Inspiratory reserve volume is the additional air that can be forcibly inhaled after the inspiration of a normal tidal volume
What is expiratory reserve volume?
Expiratory reserve volume is the additional air that can be forcibly exhaled after the expiration of a normal tidal volume
What is residual volume?
Residual volume is the volume of air still remaining in the lungs after the expiratory reserve volume is exhaled
What is Inspiratory Capacity?
Inspiratory capacity is the maximum amount of air that can be inspired i.e. inspiratory reserve + tidal volumes
What is Functional Residual Capacity?
Functional residual capacity is the volume of air in the lungs at the end of a passive exhalation
What is vital capacity?
- Vital capacity is the total amount of air that can be expired after fully inhaling
- Vital capacity = inspiratory capacity + expiratory reserve OR inspiratory reserve volume + TV + expiratory reserve volume
What is Total lung volume?
- Total lung volume is the maximum amount of air that can fill the lungs
- Total lung volume = vital capacity + residual volume
What determines the functional residual capacity?
- The balance of elastic forces of the chest wall, favouring outward expansion
- The elasticity and surface tension of the lung, favouring a smaller lung volume
What role do the pleural membranes have in ventilation
- The pleural membranes constitute the pleural seal which holds the lungs to the chest wall
- Hence, as the chest wall expands, the lung is forced to follow
Describe the structure and function of the pleural membranes
- Structure: double-walled sacs enclosing each lung
- Function: slide over each other to enable smooth expansion of the lung
parietal pleura - lines the inside of each hemi-thorax
visceral - lines outside of lung (shiny)
What is the pleural space/cavity?
- The pleural space is the space between the visceral and parietal pleural membranes
- Contains 10-20 ml pleural fluid (lubricant)
Identify the muscles of quiet inspiration and expiration
- Inspiration: diaphragm and external intercostal muscles
- Expiration: due to elastic recoil, no muscles used
Describe the mechanism of quiet expiration and the role of elastic recoil
In quiet expiration, when muscle contraction ceases, the elastic recoil of the lung results in the thoracic cavity and the lung returning to the original equilibrium position (passive process)
Identify the accessory muscles of forced inspiration
- Sternocleidomastoid
- Scalene
- Pectoralis major & minor
- Trapezius
Identify the accesory muscles of forced expiration
- Internal intercostals
- Muscles of the abdominal wall