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Exercise physiology > The lungs > Flashcards

The lungs Flashcards

1
Q

functions of the respiratory system?

A

-Gas exchange (o2 in, CO2 out)
-Regulate pH (reduce acidity in blood)
-Protection from pathogens
-Allow us to talk (force air from lungs thru vocal chords)

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1
Q

why do humans have an internal respiratory system

A

allows us to keep moist internal environment allowing for gas exchange

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2
Q

what is external respiration

A

The movement of gases from the environment to the cells in the body

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3
Q

what are the 4 processes of external respiration?

A

-Exchange of air between atmosphere and lungs
-Exchange of oxygen and CO2 between lungs and blood
-Transport of O2 and CO2 in the blood
-Exchange of gases between blood and cells

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4
Q

describe what the external anatomy of the respiratory system consists of?

A

Both a muscular and bone system:
-Intercostal muscles (between ribs)
-Diaphragm (large flat muscle at bottom of rib cage)
-Scalenes & sternocleidomastoids (attach from neck to top of clavicle)
-Abdominal muscles

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5
Q

What is the internal respiratory system split into?

A

split between upper and lower respiratory system

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6
Q

what does the upper respiratory system consist of?

A

nasal cavity, larynx, vocal cords, tongue, pharynx, oesophagus

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7
Q

what does the lower respiratory system consist of?

A

trachea, lungs, bronchus, bronchiole

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8
Q

what occurs within the 2 pleural membranes in lungs and pleural cavity?

A

they fill with liquid

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9
Q

What are functions of liquid in pleural cavity

A

-Provides slippery surface (prevents lungs from being damaged by touching the ribcage
-Holds the lungs close to ribcage (ensures lungs contract and expand fully along with the ribcage via surface tension)

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10
Q

What happens within the airways?

A

-Warms air (ensures no cold air enters alveoli- could affect body temperature and damage alveoli)
-Adds water vapour (moisture) to air as it travels down respiratory system (moisture required for gas exchange later on)
-Layer of mucus filters out pathogens (pathogens stick to layer allowing mucus to be pushed out and removed)

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11
Q

Describe the system within the airways?

A

-Conducting system(larynx, trachea which splits into 2 primary bronchus which then divide 22 more times into bronchiole finishing with alveoli cluster)

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12
Q

Describe the function/ adaptations of alveoli in the lungs ?

A

-Allows gas exchange to take place
-Due to shape/ structure alveoli are able to increase SA of lungs, increasing gas exchange
-Large blood supply provided by surrounding capillaries (allows for efficiency of gas exchange)
-Thin membranes-1 cell thick-ensuring small diffusion distance, making it easier to get O2 in and CO2 out

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13
Q

What does Boyles law suggest?

A

P1xV1= P2 x V2
-Pressure is created by collision of gases within a container
(is directly proportional to size of container- smaller container, more collisions, more pressure)
-Gases always move down pressure gradient In lungs: When we breathe out, volume decreases so pressure increases, forcing gases to move out
-We breathe in, volume increases so pressure decreases

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14
Q

What does atmospheric pressure mean?

A

the sum of the pressures of the individual gases in the atmosphere (eg. Nitrogen, Oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases)

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15
Q

what does partial pressure mean?

A

the pressure of an individual gas
-Individual gases move down a concentration (partial pressure) gradient- continues into equilibrium is reached

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16
Q

Describe the process of inspiration?

A

For air to move into alveoli pressure in lungs must be lower than atmospheric pressure:
-Diaphragm contracts and flattens, pulling bottom of lungs down increasing surface area for inspiration
-The ribs move up and out, increasing volume, reducing pressure allowing for air to be taken into lungs in order to equalise pressure gradient

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17
Q

describe the process of expiration?

A

-Diaphragm relaxes causing lungs to drop and decrease volume, pressure increases and air is forced out
2 types:Quiet expiration (natural) and Active expiration (uses more muscles which contract and force air out)

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18
Q

What is tidal volume?

A

the amount of air that goes in and out of lungs with each breath
(at rest-½ L- 1L per breath)

19
Q

what is inspiratory reserve volume?

A

how much more air we could breathe in (at rest 2 1/2L- 3L)

20
Q

what is expiratory reserve volume?

A

how much more air that could be exhaled (1l-1 1/2L at rest)

21
Q

What is vital capacity?

A

the largest breath possible (the largest inspiration + largest expiration)

22
Q

what is Total lung capacity compared to vital capacity?

A

will always be larger than vital capacity- due to always being a slight residual volume left over

23
Q

what is residual volume?

A

(around 1l)- air that is left in the lungs (decreases with age)

24
Q

what does dynamic lung volume mean?

A

How much air can be forced out in a certain amount of time

25
Q

What can dynamic lung volume tell us?

A

whether we have normal lungs or problems with restriction or obstruction

26
Q

what is restriction?

A

lower forced vital capacity(lower elasticity)

27
Q

what is obstruction?

A

lower FEV1 (volume of air that can be exhaled in 1 second) is lower but overall forced vital capacity is the same

28
Q

what is Minute ventilation and the formula for it?

A

-the amount of air going in and out of lungs within 1 minute
Minute ventilation = Tidal vol x breathing rate

29
Q

State the general values of breathing rate, tidal vol and minute ventilation at rest

A

BR=12, TV=0.5, MV=6

30
Q

State the general values of breathing rate, tidal vol and minute ventilation in moderate exercise

A

BR=30, TV=2.5, MV= 75

31
Q

State the general values of breathing rate, tidal vol and minute ventilation in vigorous exercise

A

BR=50, TV=3, MV= 150

32
Q

Why can’t minute ventilation indicate how much fresh air reaches alveoli?

A

Due to dead space (150ml)- is old air and can’t be used for gas exchange

33
Q

formula for alveoli ventilation?

A

Alveoli ventilation= Ventilation Rate x (tidal volume- dead space)

34
Q

Describe the journey of oxygen within gas exchange?

A

-Oxygen enters alveoli and moves from pulmonary capillaries into the system
-The heart then pumps it around the body and reaches the tissues (reaches muscle tissue and capillaries within it)
-Oxygen then moves into cells where cellular respiration can take place

35
Q

describe the journey of CO2 within gas exchange?

A

-CO2 goes back into systemic capillaries and through the system and heart into the pulmonary capillaries
-its then exchanged and taken out through the alveoli and expelled with air being exhaled

36
Q

what is exchange process driven by?

A

-partial pressure (gas moves from area of low to high partial pressure):
-Atmosphere has high partial pressure of oxygen wheare blood reaching alveoli has lower oxygen partial pressure

37
Q

what are the factors influencing alveolar gas exchange

A

-resistance within airways, lung compliance and rate/ depth of breathing influence alveolar ventilation which affects oxygen reaching the alveoli
-Composition of inspired air
-Barrier thickness, amount of fluid can influence diffusion distance
-Diffusuion distance and SA can influence gas diffusion between alveoli and blood

38
Q

Diffusion formula

A

Diffusion = Surface Area x Barrier permeability/ distance

39
Q

what is emphysema?

A

destruction of alveoli means less surface area for gas exchange

40
Q

what is fibrotic lung disease?

A

thickened alveolar membrane slows gas exchange, loss of lung compliance may decrease alveolar ventilation

41
Q

what is pulmonary edema

A

fluid in interstitial space increases diffusion distance

42
Q

what is asthma?

A

increased airway resistance decreasing alveolar ventilation

43
Q

what is transport of oxygen within the lungs influenced by?

A

by solubility of oxygen within a liquid

44
Q

describe the effect of haemoglobin within oxygen transport in the lungs?

A

-Haemoglobin is able to bind to oxygen causing it to diffuse into the blood, each red blood cell is able to take on 4 oxygen molecules
-This then allows for more room so more oxygen can move into and dissolve the blood, increasing uptake of oxygen

Exercise physiology (18 decks)

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