The Respiratory System Flashcards
The respiratory system consists of
lungs
chest wall
Chest wall consists of
Rib cage Thoracic spine All structures attached to them: -respiratory muscles (including diaphragm) -other sk. muscles and fat
Function of resp. system
Maintain a normal partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in the arterial blood
Maintaining normal partial pressures depends on 3 interrelated processes:
- ventilation
- matching of ventilation and perfusion
- Gas diffusion
Ventilation regulates what. Ventilation is regulated by?
Regulates PaCO2
Is regulated by neurons in the medulla (receive input from cerebral cortex and peripheral receptors)
Ventilation-perfusion relationships are important because:
- The V/Q ratio of each alveolus determines the PO2 and PCO2 of the alveolar gas
- The PaO2 falls and the PaCO2 rises as the range or distribution of V/Q ratios increases
Rate of gas diffusion varies directly with? inversely with?
Directly with:
- the contact area btw alveolar gas and capillary blood
- the partial pressure gradient
Inversely with:
-diffusion distance
Lung inflation stimulates what receptors?
Non-chemical stretch receptors (lungs and airways) Muscle spindles (chest wall musculature) Tendon organs (chest wall musculature)
Regulatory cortex, complex, groups.
Cerebral motor cortex
-input to brainstem motor neurons, for adjustments in breathing
Pre-Botzinger complex (brainstem)
-where the rhythm generator exists
Dorsal Respiratory Group (pons and medulla)
-Activate inspiratory neurons
Ventral Respiratory Group (pons and medulla)
-Activate primarily expiratory neurons, some inspiratory neurons
Output from these neurons govern phrenic and intercostal motor neurons, and those of the pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles
Stimuli that evoke a response from the respiratory control system
Hypoxemia
Hypercapnia
pH
Chemoreceptors sense?
Oxygen tension (PaO2)
Carbon Dioxide tension (PaCO2)
pH
Peripheral Chemoreceptors- consist of, location, cell types, sends info where/how?
Consists of: carotid bodies
Location: bifurcation of the common carotid artery and aortic bodies
Cells: Type I (glomus) cells- act as sensors and contain/release catecholamines from cytoplasmic vesicles Type II (sheath) cells- encircle glomus cells in a supporting structural role
Send information related to blood gas tensions and pH to CNS via:
- carotid sinus nerve
- glossopharyngeal nerve
Central Chemoreceptors- location, primarily sensitive to, directly stimulated by? Result of stim?
Location: throughout lower brainstem (area classically descriibed as ventrolateral medulla)
Primarily sensitive to: CO2 tension (PCO2)
Once CO2 diffuses across the BBB, it is rapidly hydrated and dissociates to form H+ and HCO3-
It is the H+ ions that act as the stimulus to the central chemosensitive cells
Augments ventilatory drive and increases alveolar ventilation
Ventilatory response quicker to peripheral or central chemoreceptors?
Quicker response to peripheral chemoreceptors.
Bc greater blood flow to the carotid bodies
Non-chemical control of breathing- main groups of receptors and their innervation.
Slowly and rapidly adapting receptors: innervated by myelinated vagal fibers
J (juxtacapillary) receptors - innervated by unmyelinated vagal C fibers
Slowly adapting receptors
Hering-Breuer Inflation Reflex
Increase firing rate immediately in response to stimuli
Firing rate decreases despite continued stimulus.
Located among airway smooth muscle cells
Some are stretch receptors
-Participate in Hering-breuer Inflation Reflex:
Sustained inflation of lung inhibits further inspiratory activity and results in a period of apnea
Rapidly Adapting Receptors- response, stimulated by, results of stim
Decrease firing rate in response to stimulus
Located among airway epithelial cells
Stimulated not only by lung inflation but also by exogenous factors: particulate matter, edogenous agents- histamine and prostaglandins
Result: cough, hyperpnea, bronchocontriction
Juxtacapillary Receptors -location, innervatated by ___ which are stim by…? Result of stim?
Located in the pulmonary interstitial space in close proximity to the pulmonary and bronchial circulations
Innervated by unmyelinated vagal C-fibers
C-fibers are stimulated by:
-pulmonary congestion
-other pathologic processes within the pulmonary interstitium
-Bronchoconstriction
-lung inflation
-exogenous and endogenous agents such as capsaicin, histamine, bradykinin, serotonin and prostaglandins
Result: Apnea followed by rapid shallow breathing and bradycardia and hypotension (pulmonary chemoreflex)
Ondine’s curse
Loss of the ability for automatic control of respiration while maintaining voluntary control
Children sufferring from Ondine’s curse need continuous ventilatory support
By adulthood, usually required only during sleep.
Heart-Lung Transplantation. Changes in innervation, relfex?
Vagal innervation of both heart and lungs are lost
Loss of vagal efferent input to heart- increase in resting heart rate
Loss of vagal afferent input from lungs- no signifcant change to rate/depth of breathing
No longer cough response to stim of smaller airways
Trachea remains innervated and can still elicit normal cough response
Repiratory pattern of a cough
A deep inspiration followed by a forced expiration against a closed glottis that builds up large pressures until the glottis is suddenly opened and the air escapes
Respiratory pattern of a sneeze
Series of superimposed inspirations in the presence of an open glottis that is followed by a rapid expiration of air at several hundred miles per hour.
Respiratory pattern of a hiccup
Spasmodic contraction of the inspiratory muscles timed exactly with sudden closure of the glottis.
No apparent useful purpose
Respiratory pattern of a yawn
Deep inspiration followed by a slow expiration over a 5-6 sec period.
Possibly stretches the lung to open up under-ventilated and collapsed portions
Breathing during normal sleep. During non-REM sleep, during REM sleep.
Normal sleep: reduction in tidal volume
Non-REM sleep:
-reduction in PaO2 and oxyhemoglobin saturation
-increase in PaCO2
-diminished ventilatory response to hypercapnia and hypoxemia
REM sleep:
-further reduction in ventilatory response to hypercapnea and hypoxemia
-blood gasses variable since sleep stage is non-homogeneous condition (phasic REM and tonic REM)
-Irregularity in breathing due to loss of accessory muscles such as intercostals
(ventilation becomes solely dependent on the diaphragm)
Sleep associated breathing problems
Obstructive sleep apnea:
- reduced tone of the upper airway respiratory muscles
- periods of airway collapse during sleep
Cheyne-Stokes respiration:
-waxing and waning periods of hyperventilation and apnea
-most commonly seen in people acending to high altitude or in patients with severe heart failure
Possible pathogenesis factors:
1. pulmonary congestion
2. delay in circulation time btw lungs and central chemoreceptors due to cardiac insufficiency in heart failure patients
3. Alterations in the threshold for PaCO2 to stimulate breathing, potentially accounting for the increased susceptibility to develop this breathing pattern during sleep
Respiratory control in obese individuals
Severe obesity leads to mechanical loads on the resp. system which may result in underventilation of parts of the lung
Adipose tissue produces endocrine and signaling factors that may help determine whether resp. control mechanisms are able to compensate for the mechanical loads imposed by severe obesity
Ex: Leptin- regulator of satiety/metabolism. Acts on neuronal groups in hypothalamus. Can also alter central respiratory control mechanisms
Transpulmonary pressure equation
Alveolar pressure minus pleural pressure
Equation for the pressure gradient across the chest wall
Pleural pressure minus body surface (atmospheric) pressure
Alveolar pressure is equal to?
Pressure measured at the airway opening proximal to site of airway occlusion
How is pleural pressure approximated?
By measuring the pressure within the lower 2/3 of the esophagus using a balloon catheter
Equation for elastic recoil pressure of the entire respiratory system. It is equal to?
Transpulmonary pressure plus pressure gradient across chest wall. It is equal to the pressure recorded at the airway opening.
Measured lung volumes are determined primarily by what factors?
- Elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall
- Strength of the respiratory muscles