ventilation and compliance Flashcards
define tidal volume
TV
500ml
the volume of air breathed in/out of the lungs at each breath
only uses a fraction of our lung capacity
define expiratory reserve volume
ERV
1.1L
the max vol of air which can be expelled from the lungs at the end of a normal expiration
define inspiratory volume
IRV
3L
The maximum volume of air which can be drawn into the lungs at the end of a normal inspiration
define residual volume
RV
1.2L
the volume of gas in the lungs at the end of a normal expiration
cannot be voluntarily moved out and remains in the alveoli
what is the purpose of RV
important for gas exchange to continue at all times between breaths
helps prevent the alveoli collapsing (requires much more effort to inflate the alveoli from a collapsed state rather than a partially inflated state)
define vital capacity
VC 4.5L TV + IRV + ERV max amount of air you can move on one breath good value to use in lung function tests
define total lung capacity
TLC
VC + RV
define inspiratory capacity
IC
TV + IRV
define functional residual capacity
FRC
ERV + RV
volume of air left in the lungs after a normal expiration
requires a greater change in pressure from FRC to reach a particular lung volume during inspiration than to maintain that volume during expiration
define forced expired volume in 1s
FEV1
4.0L in healthy, fit, young adult males
define fraction of forced VC expired in 1s
FEV1:FVC
FVC in healthy young males = 5L
FEV1/FVC = 80%
absolute values decline slightly with age
define anatomical dead space
volume of gas occupied by the conducting airways and this gas isnt available for exchange
what is surfactant
detergent like fluid secreted by type II pnuemocytes
what is the role of surfactant (4)
reduces surface tension on the alveolar surface membrane
increases lung compliance
reduces lungs tendency to recoil
makes the work of breathing easier
how does alveoli reduce surface tension
reduces the attraction between the water molecules lining the alveoli
these create inwardly directed pressure
surfactant reduces the inwardly directed pressure which reduces the tendency of the alveoli to collapse
where is surfactant most effective
in smaller alveoli
the surfactant molecules come together and are more concentrated
when does surfactant production begin
~25wks gestation and is complete ~36wkss
stimulated by thyroid hormones and cortisol
what is the relationship between premature babies and surfactant
premature babies suffer IRDS (infant respiratory distress syndrome)and are often given synthetic surfactant to help them breathe and survive
law of laplace
P = 2T/r pressure = 2 x surface tension/radius
what is an obstructive lung disease
obstruction of air flow, especially on expiration
increased airway resistance
what is a restrictive lung disease
restriction of lung expansion
loss of lung compliance (lung stiffness, incomplete expansion)
give 2 examples of obstructive lung diseases
asthma
COPD