Ventilation: Physics of Breathing Flashcards
Pulmonary ventilation
movement of air from atmosphere to alveoli
- Regulation of ventilation
- Matching of pulmonary blood flow to alveolar ventilation
- Movement of O2 and CO2 between alveoli and blood
- Transport of O2 and CO2 in blood and body fluids
Non-respiratory functions of ventilation
- Expulsion of foreign bodies
- Defence against infection/disease
Alveolar Ventilation
the rate at which new air reaches these area
Dead space air
(about 150ml)
Some air that is breathed in never reaches gas exchange areas but fills respiratory passages (e.g. nose, pharynx, trachea
Alveolar Ventilation Rate (VA ) =
Freq x (VT – VD)
4200ml/min = 12breath/min x (500ml – 150ml)
abbreviations
VA, volume of alveolar ventilation per min
Freq, frequency of respiration per min
VT, tidal volume
VD, dead space volume
Lungs can be expanded and contracted in 2 ways:
Downward and upward movement of diaphragm to lengthen or shorten chest cavity
Elevation and depression of the ribs to increase or decrease anterioposterior diameter of chest cavity
how is normal breathing accomplished
entirely by method 1
During heavy breathing
During heavy breathing, normal elastic recoil not quick enough so need contraction of abdominal muscles too
Most important muscles that raise rib cage are:
- External intercostals
- Sternocleidomastoid (lift upward on sternum)
- Anterior serrati (lift many ribs)
- Scaleni (lift first two ribs)
Most important muscles that lower rib cage are:
- Abdominal recti
- Internal intercostals
Intrapleural (Pleural) pressure
pressure is pressure of fluid in thin space between lung pleura and chest wall pleura – usually slight negative pressure
IP pressure varies over length of lungs
intrapleural pressure values
At start of respiration pleural pressure about -5 cm H2O
During inspiration expansion of chest cage pulls lungs outward so negative pressure increases to about -7.5 cm H2O
Air sucked into lungs
Expiration process reversed
Alveolar pressure
is the pressure of air inside the lung alveoli
alveolar pressure mechanism
When glottis open and no air flowing, pressure in all parts of respiratory tree is equal to atmospheric pressure (0 cm H2O)
During inspiration and chest wall expansion, alveolar pressure decreases to about -1 cm H2O
Pulls 0.5 L air into lungs
During expiration opposite occurs