Week 1 Flashcards
Define external respiration.
The sequence of events that lead to the exchange of O2 and CO2 between the external environment and the cells in the body
What is internal respiration?
The intracellular mechanisms which consume O2 and produces CO2
What are the steps of external respiration?
Ventilation or gas exchange between the atmosphere and air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs
Exchange between alveoli and blood
Transport of O2 and CO2 round the body
Exchange between blood and tissues
What three systems are involved in external respiration?
Respirator
Cardiovascular
Haematology
What is Boyle’s law?
At any constant temperature the pressure exerted by a gas varies inversely with the volume of the gas
How does air move into the alveoli?
The intra-alveolar pressure becomes less than atmospheric pressure creating a pressure gradient causing air to move in. This is done by the thorax and lungs expanding as a result of contraction of the respiratory muscles.
What links the lungs to the thoracic wall?
The intrapleural fluid cohesiveness:
- the water molecules in the fluid are attached and resist being pulled apart. Here the pleural membranes tend to stick together
Negative intrapleural pressure:
Sub atmospheric pressure create a transmural pressure gradient. Lungs are forced to expand and chest is forced to squeeze inwards
What muscles contract to cause inspiration and what do these do?
Diaphram contraction by phrenic nerve from C3,4 and 5 increasing the volume of the thorax
External intercostal muscle contraction lifting the ribs and sternum.
Both allow for lung expansion
How does expiration occur?
It is a passive process brought about by relaxation of the inspiration muscles causing the chest wall and lungs to recoil to normal size causing the intra-alveolar pressure to rise. The air then leaves the lungs down it’s pressure gradient.
What causes the lung to recoil during expiration?
Elastic connective tissue in the lungs
- whole structure bounces back into shape
Alveolar surface tension
- pressure caused by lining of alveoli with water and air causing
What is LaPlace’s law?
The fact that smaller alveoli (with smaller radius) have a higher tendency to collapse.
How is LaPlace’s law overcome?
The alveoli secrete pulmonary surfactant which lowers alveolar surface tension by interspersing between the water lining. The surfactant lowers surface tension of smaller alveoli more than large ones.
What is pulmonary surfactant?
A complex mixture of lipids and proteins
What is respiratory distress syndrome in new borns?
Developing fetal lungs are unable to synthesize surfactant until late in pregnancy. Premature babies may not have enough pulmonary surfactant so strenuous inspiratory efforts have to be made to overcome the high surface tension and inflate the lungs
What is the alveolar interdependence?
If one alveolus starts to collapse the surrounding alveoli are stretched and recoil exerting expanding forces in the collapsing alveolus (pushing air into it) to make it expand again
What forces keep alveoli open?
Transmural pressure gradient
Pulmonary surfactant
Alveolar interdependence
Define tidal volume and state it’s average volume
Volume of air entering or leaving lungs during a single breath.
500ml
Define Inspiratory reserve volume and state it’s average value.
Extra volume of air that can be maximally inspired over and above the typical resting tidal volume.
3000ml
Define inspiratory capacity and state it’s average value.
Maximum volume of air that can be inspired (IRV+TV)
3500ml
Define Expiratory reserve volume and state it’s average value.
Extra volume of air that can be actively by maximal contraction beyond the normal tidal volume.
1000ml
Define residual volume and state it’s normal value
Minimum volume of air remaining in the lungs even after a maximal expiration.
1200ml
Define functional residual capacity and state it’s average volume.
Volume of air in lungs at end of normal passive expiration (FRC = ERV + RV)
2200ml
Define vital capacity and state it’s average value.
Maximum volume of air that can be moved out during a single breath follow a maximum inspiration
(VC= IRV + TV + ERV)
4500ml
Define total lung capacity and state it’s average value
Maximum volume of air that the lungs can hold (TLC = VC + RV)
5700ml
Define FEV1, how to calculate it and the normal result
Volume of air that can be expired during the first second of expiration in an FVC determination.
FEV1% (FER) = FEV1/FVC x100
Normal > 75%
What is the primary determinant of airway resistance?
The radius
Define pulmonary compliance.
The measure of effort that has to go into stretching or distending the lungs
What can cause decreased pulmonary compliance?
Pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary oedema, lung collapse, pneumonia and absence of surfactant
What effect does decreased pulmonary compliance have?
A greater change in pressure is needed to produce a given change in volume. This causes SOB especially on exertion.
It may cause a restrictive pattern of lung volumes in spirometry (it is often caused by restricted disease - pulmonary fibrosis etc)
What causes increased pulmonary compliance?
The elastic recoil of the lungs is lost so less effort is required to expand them. This occurs in emphysema and patients have to work harder to get air out of their lungs.