Ventilation and Compliance Flashcards
What is surfactant?
Produced by type II alveolar cells and reduces surface tension by disrupting cohesive forces between water molecules and therefore reducing tendency for alveoli to collapse
How is surface tension created?
By thin fluid between alveolar cells and air increasing stretch resistance, making breathing more difficult
Arises due to H bonds between water molecules
Explain the Law of LaPlace
The surface tension is directed toward the centre - law states that pressure inside a bubble is due to SURFACE TENSION (T) and RADIUS (r)
P = 2T/r
What is the relationship between the size of the bubble and surfactant effect?
IF two bubbles have different diameters but same surface tension:
The pressure inside the smaller one is GREATER and INCREASED resistance to stretch
If alveoli did not have surfactant and ST was equal in all alveoli - pressure would equalise by air flowing into the larger alveoli
What are the effects of surfactant?
Reduces surface tension and thus tendency for alveoli to collapse
Increases lung compliance
Reduces lung tendency to recoil
Makes work of breathing easier
What can premature babies suffer due to inadequate amount of surfactant?
Infant Respiratory Distress Syndome (IRDS)
Surfactant produced ~25weeks, so premature babies requires a lot of energy to breathe
What is the effect of saline in the lungs?
Less intrapleural pressure required to inflate lungs as it does not need to overcome surface tension as no air-water interface
What are the normal alveolar PO2 and PCO2 levels?
PO2 - 13.5kPa (100mmHg)
PCO2 - 5.3 kPa (40mmHg)
What happens in hyperventilation?
Increased alveolar ventilation causing ALKALOSIS
PO2 increase to 120mmHg
PCO2 falls to 20mmHg
What happens in hypoventilation?
Decreased alveolar ventilation causing ACIDOSIS
PO2 falls to 30mmHg
PCO2 increased to 100mmHg
Pulmonary vs alveolar ventilation
Pul - total air getting to lung
Alv - fresh air getting to alveoli and available for gas exchange
(L/min)
What is compliance?
Change in volume relative to the change in intrapleural/alveolar pressure
Why is greater change in pressure required during inspiration than expiration?
To overcome tissue inertia (initial ST) to allow compliance
Why does ventilation and compliance decrease from base to apex?
At rest, capillaries are closed at the apex due to low hydrostatic pressure, whereas they’re open at the base due to high hydro. pressure
What would happen to the FEV1/FVC ratio in obstructive disease?
Decrease - as airflow obstructed so cant expire as fast
What would happen to the FEV1/FVC ration in restrictive disease?
No change - as air flow not obstructed but cant take in as much air