STEPH Physiology Flashcards
Describe the respiratory cycle
The oxygen saturated blood moves from lungs to heart to capillary beds to muscles. While Carbon goes the reverse.
Explain how the pressure in the pleural space of the lungs is negative
It is a sealed sac, with the potential space between visceral and parietal pleura is touching, with a little serous fluid within.As thoracic cavity is larger than lungs, the lungs are semi-expanded at rest, which means that there is recoil from the lungs which want to collapse and this generates the negative pressure in the pleural space.
Describe how inspiration and expiration affects pressures in the lungs and pleural space
Inspiration = a further decrease of intrapleural pressure, from the diaphragm and other inspiratory muscles contracting.The alveolar which is pulled by the pleural space also becomes more negative than the atmosphere Expiration = relaxing of the diaphragm, contraction of intercostal muscles
Define lung volumes and capacities.4 different volumes?4 capacities (two or more volume combined)
4 different volumes Inspiratory reserve volume Tidal volume Expiratory reserve volume Residual volume
4 capacities (two more more volumes combined) Inspiratory capacity ( IRV + TV/Vt) Functional residual capacity (FRC) Vital capacity (IRV + TV/Vt +ERV) Total lung capacity (TLC)
Identify the most important factor contributing to resistance
Radius of the airways is the most important factor
Describe how obstructive lung disease affect airways with an example
Eg asthma of horse or catdecrease radius of airways and increased mucous productionWhich increases resistance Early dynamic small airway closureUltimately leads to reduced expiration capacity and increased residual volume
Describe minute and alveolar ventilationwhich is more important?
Minute ventilationvolume of air reaching the alveoli per minuteVE- BF x VTAlveolar ventilationtaking into account dead space (in trachea)Va = Bf x (VT - VD)Alveolar ventilation is more important as dead space is not functional alveolar, but minute ventilation is easier to measure. Changes in minute ratio still has functional useBeing mindful of the ratio of dead space and anaesthesia tubing is also dead space
Define compliance and elastance
Compliance = ability of lungs to stretch and expandvolume/pressure = complianceDue to elastic fibres + surface tensionC facilitates “appropriate functional residual capacity”Elastane = the reciprocal of compliancepressure change required to elicit a volume changeTherefore increased elastane = increased work of breathing
Describe the principle of surface tension
Water is drawn to other water molecules more than air, thus water clumps together
Explain how surface tension is generated in the alveoli
Alveoli fluid/water covers the alveolar surface, because of the air-water interface
Describe the role of type II pneumocystis and surfactant
Type II pneumocystis produces surfactantSurfactant lines the alveoli to reduces the surface tension by reducing air-water interface in the alveoli
Explain the effect of surfactant on surface tension in the lung
As due to the law of Laplace, the larger the alveoli the easier it is to inflate as there is less surface tension.IMPORTANT = Surfactant makes it easy to inflate the lungs regardless of size of the alveoli
Define work of breathing
Energy required to perform tidal ventilation over a set period of time
Explain how the rate of breathing relates to the total work of breathing (need to go over again)
Rate is the frequency of breathing, thus how much work is done
Explain the relationship between pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary blood resistance
Pulmonary arterylow pressureLow resistance (much less resistance than systemic blood flow)
Describe the effects of distension and recruitment on pulmonary blood pressure
Hydrostatic pressure of the blood in the vessels is affected.
Describe the effect of gravity on pulmonary blood flow
Lower regions of vessels are affected by gravity more, so the blood vessels are more distended, thus there is less resistance. Thus three zones are used to describe the variationZ1 = no gas exchange at rest ( as the pressure of the vessel doesn’t get higher than the alveolar pressure)Z2 = intermittent at rest, flows during systole, not diastole.Z3 = flow through the whole cardiac cycle, as Ventilation-perfusion mismatch- too much blood flow for the air in the alveolar
Explain the effects of exercise on pulmonary blood flow
The top region has the greatest difference in the increase of blood flow. While bottom may increase in blood flow less.
Overall more capillaries are diffused and increase dilation of though already diffused3 ways that lungs accommodate for the increased blood flow
Increase in no. of open capillaries (3x)
Distension of all capillaries (2x)
Increase pulmonary pressure increase- this end up reducing resistance poiseuille law (bigger diameter = less resistance)
Describe the effect of hypoxia on pulmonary blood flow
Alveolar with lower than 70% oxygen = vasoconstriction This allows the blood to be distributed to where it is most needed.Sending blood to the alveolar with higher O2 saturation.
Describe the principle of gas diffusion
High concentration to low concentration
Describe the normal ranges of PAO2, PaO2 and PvO2
PaO2 = arterial blood oxygen partial pressure(40)
PAO2 - partial pressure oxygen in alveoli (104)
PvO2 - partial pressure of oxygen in mixed venous blood (100)
the rate of diffusion is based on the difference in pp and rate in which the alveolar air is replaced.
Eg when there is less O2 in the blood at the arterial end, the rate of diffusion will be higher
Describe the normal ranges of PaCO2, PACO2 and PvCO2
PaCO2 = 45PACOs = 40PcCO2 = 40However solubility of CO2 is around 20x of oxygen in both blood and alveolar fluid means that the rate of diffusion is quite similar