Ventilation - perfusion and gas transport (physiology) Flashcards
Define ventilation
The amount of air getting into the lungs (alveolar ventilation)
Define perfusion
The blood flow through the pulmonary circulation
What is the relationship between ventilation and perfusion?
Ideal relationship is where ventilation = perfusion
(all air getting into alveoli is passed on to circulation)
How does ventilation vary throughout the lungs?
Greatest at base and least at apex
(ventilation»_space;> perfusion at apex due to lower blood pressure)
How does perfusion vary throughout the lung?
Greatest at base and least at apex
(perfusion»_space;> ventilation at base due to gravity and high blood pressure)
Why is ventilation»_space;> perfusion at apex of lung?
Arterial pressure is less than alveoli pressure which then compresses the arterioles.
Why is perfusion»_space;> ventilation at base of lung?
Arterial pressure exceeds alveolar pressure so alveolar are compressed.
What happens when blood flow is greater than ventilation?
Poor ventilation leads to a build up of PCO2 and a fall in PO2 in alveoli.
Blood flow continues but there is little gas exchange.
A shunt occurs = where there is dilution of oxygenated blood from better ventilated areas. Blood moves from left to right side of the heart without being oxygenated.
Results in pulmonary vasoconstriction (to redirect blood flow to better ventilated areas) and bronchial dilation (to increase ventilation)
What happens when ventilation is greater than blood flow?
Results in alveolar dead space. Where the alveolar are well ventilated but due to poor perfusion little gas exchange occurs.
Alveolar PO2 increases and PCO2 falls
Results in pulmonary vasodilation (to increase blood flow ) and bronchial constriction (to reduce ventilation.)
Define alveolar dead space
Air just sat in alveoli due to poor perfusion (little gas exchange occurring)
Define anatomical dead space
Air sat in the respiratory tract unable to participate in gas exchange as wall of region are too thick.
Define physiological dead space
Alveolar DS + anatomical DS
What happens to O2 movement between alveoli and blood?
(in terms of partial pressure)
O2 moves down its partial pressure gradient.
Diffusion of O2 stops when PO2 alveolar = PO2 plasma.
What happens to CO2 movement between alveoli and blood?
(in terms of partial pressure)
CO2 moves down its partial pressure gradient.
(out of tissue into blood, out of blood into lungs)
What is the role of haemoglobin in the transport of O2 in the blood?
O2 diffuses into the blood and binds to Hb which transports it round the body to tissues
There are 4 binding sites per HB
Hb is cooperative
- When one O2 binds in increases affinity for other O2 to bind
What is the saturation of Hb in oxygenated and deoxygenated blood?
Oxygenated blood = 98%
Deoxygenated blood = 75%
(Therefore 25% O2 is used in tissues)