Session 5 - Control of breathing, Hypoxia and Respiratory Failure Flashcards
What is hypoxia?
• A fall in alveolar, thus arterial pO2
What is hypercapnia?
• A rise in alveolar, thus arterial CO2
What is hypocapnia?
• A fall in alveolar, thus arterial CO2
What is hyperventilation?
- Ventilation increases with no change in metabolism
* (breathing more than you actually have to)
What is hypoventilation?
- Ventilation decreases with no change in metabolism
* (breathing less than you have to)
How does hyperventilation affect plasma pH?
- pCO2 down
* pH increases
How does hypoventilation affect CO2 and plasma pH?
- pCO2 up
* pH down
What is the normal metabolic pH?
• 7.4
What is the body’s normal pH range?
• 7.38 - 7.42
What happens if plasma pH falls below 7.0?
- Plasma k+ rises to dangerous levels and enzymes are lethally denatured
- Function of heart affected
What happens if plasma pH rises above 7.6?
- Free calcium concentration falls enough to produce fatal tetany
- Calcium salts soluble in acid conditions - In alkalosis, calcium forms complexes. Nerves become excitable, causing tetany
Give two events which will occur when hypoventilation occurs?
- Hypercapnia
- Respiratory acidosis
- pH falls below 7.0
- Enzymes become lethally denatured
Give two events which will occur when hyperventilation occurs?
• Hypo capnia and respiratory alkalosis
• pH rises above 7.6
• Free calcium concentration falls enough to produce fatal tetany
○ Ca2+ is only soluble in acid, so pH rises Ca2+ cannot stay in blood. Nerves become hyperexcitable.
What is respiratory acidosis?
- CO2 produced more rapidly than it is removed by the lungs (hypoventilation).
- pCO2 rises, so (dissolved CO2) rises more than HCO3-, producing a fall in plasma pH
What is compensated respiratory acidosis?
• Respiratory acidosis persists, and the kidneys responsd to low pH by reducing excretion of HCO3-, thus restoring ratio of (dissolved CO2) to (HCO2-), producing a rise in pH
How long does compensation take?
• 2-3 days
What is respiratory alkalosis?
- CO2 is removed from alveoli more rapidly than it is produced (hyperventilation)
- Alveolar pCO2 decreases, changing the ratio of (dissolved CO2) to (HCO3-) producing an increase in plasma pH
What is compensated respiratory alkalosis?
• Respiratory Alkalosis persists, and the kidneys respond to the high pH by excreting HCO3-, thus restoring the ratio of [Dissolved CO2] to [HCO3-], and therefore the pH.
What is metabolic acidosis?
- HCO3- displaced by metabolically produced acids
* Blood pH form
How can metabolic acidosis be compensated for?
• Ratio of (dissolved CO2) to (HCO3-) may be restored to near normal by increasing ventilation rate to decrease pCO2
What does acidosis mean?
- Reduction in HCO3-
* NOT PH
What is metabolic alkalosis?
- Plasma HCO3- rises, causing the pH of blood to rise (after vomiting?)
- Stomach produces HCO3- when acid generated
- If acid removed from stomach, gastrin released which produces more acid
- HCO3- produced in excess as a result of this increased production
How can metabolic alkalosis be compensated for?
- Ratio of dissolved CO2 to HCO3- may be restored to near normal by raising pCO2
- Lungs decrease ventilation to correct pH
- Dangerous
What is the control of our breathing moderated by?
- pH
* Oxygen requirements are secondary
Give three variables which affect breathing?
- pH
- Decrease O2
- Increased CO2
What occurs when there is falling inspired pO2?
- Detected by peripheral chemoreceptors located in carotid and aortic bodies
- Increase the tidal volume and rate of respiration
- Changes in circulation direction more blood to the brain and kidney
- Increased pumping of blood by the heart
What occurs when there is an increase in inspired pCO2
- Central chemoreceptors in medulla more sensitive than peripheral
- Small rise in pCO2 -> Increase ventilation
- Small decrease in pCO2 -> Decrease ventilation
- Basis of negative feedback control of breathing