Week 5: Respiratory Flashcards
Cells Composing the alveolar surface
- Type 1 Alveolar cells
- Type 2 Alveolar Cells
- Fibroblasts
- Capillaries
- Pericytes
- Macrophages
- Immune Cells (T, B, Dendritic)
Type 1 Pneuomcytes (alveolar cells)
- Compose 95% of gas exchange surface
- Facilitate Gas exchange by compromising the exchange membrane
Type 2 Pneumocytes
- about 5% of alveolar surface
- reduce surface tension by secteing surfactant
- Prevent movement of fluid into the alveolus
- can generate type 1 cells
Alveolar Macrophages
- Reside in the mucus layer of the alveolar capillary unit
- can suppress T cell activation
Fibroblasts
- generate and synthesis ‘fibres’ after damage to seal the alveolus off
- type 2 cells attract them when damage occurs
Pulmonary arteries
- Have thinner walls compared to systemic counterparts
- Travel with airways (whereas veins travel between lungs nodes
Hypoxia pulmonary vasoconstriction
Pulmonary pre-capillary arterials contrast in response to alveolar hypoxia, dividing blood to better ventilated areas of the lung
Muscles for respiration and function
- Diaphragm: Contracts/relaxes to expand/reduce thoracic cavity
- External Intercostal: Contracts to elevate ribs (inspiration)
- Internal Intercostal: Contracts to pull ribs down (expiration)
Cough reflex Pathway
- Irritant makes contact with respiratory epithelium
- Innervation of vagal sensory fibres in the pharynx, trachea, & bronchi
Or Modulaion via input from higher brain centres
- Sensory fibres end in nucleus of solitary tract
- Central patter generator motor neurons
- Ventral Resp group motor neurons
- Innervation of respiratory muscles
- Forcefully expiration agasint a closes glottis (ie coughing)
Boyle’s Law
The pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume
This mean that by expanding the lungs, a negative pressure gradient is created pulling air in
Ie: increase lung volume leads to negative alveolar pressure (compare to the atmosphere) and relaxing the diagram resulting in elastic recoil of the lungs results in positive alveolar pressure
Lung compliance
- the stretchiness of the lungs
- formula is Comolaince = (change in volume)/(change in pressure)
Pleural Pressure
Plueral Pressure in negative, creating a vacuum
Sternocleidomastoid muscles
Accessory muscle involved in elevating the sternum and aiding in deep inhalation
Forced Breathing
- aka hypernea
- active, interns inhalation and exhalation involving additional respiratory muscles to meet increased oxygen demands during strenuous activity or when additional ventilation is needed
Quiet Breathing
- aka eupnoea
- Normal, rhythmic inhalation and exhalation during rest or light activities primarily driven by the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles.
Inspiratory Reserve Volume
The maximum additional air that can be inhaled after a normal inhalation.
Tidal Volume
The amount of air inhaled or exhaled during a normal breath.
Expiratory Reserve Volume
The maximum additional air that can be exhaled after a normal exhalation.
Residual Volume
The air remaining in the lungs after a maximal exhalation.
Inspiratory Capacity
The total volume of air that can be inhaled after a normal exhalation, equal to Tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume
Functional Residual Capacity
The volume of air remaining in the lungs after a normal exhalation, equal to RV + ERV.
Vital Capacity
The maximum amount of air that can be exhaled after a maximal inhalation, equal to IRV + TV + ERV.
Total lung capacity
The total volume of air the lungs can hold, equal to VC + RV.
Pleural and alveolar pressure during expiration and inspiration
Plueral is always negative
Alveolar is negative during inspiration, positive during expiration
Trasmural pressure
- In the context of the lungs, transmural pressure is critical in maintaining airway patency and the integrity of alveolar structures.
Transpulmonary pressure is the difference between the alveolar pressure and the intrapleural pressure in the pleural cavity
Transpulmonary pressure
The pressure difference between alveolar and pleural pressures, maintaining lung expansion.
Lung Compliance
a measure of the lungs’ ability to stretch and expand in response to applied pressure, typically during inhalation.
• It is defined as the change in lung volume per unit change in transpulmonary pressure.
• High lung compliance indicates that the lungs can easily expand with little pressure, whereas low compliance
suggests stiffness or resistance, requiring more effort to inflate the lungs.
• Conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis reduce lung compliance, while emphysema increases it due to the loss
of elastic recoil.
Factors Resisting Airflow
Vagus nerve innervation
causes bronchoconstriction (neural) and adrenaline stimulates beta-2 adrenergic receptors, which then causes bronchodilation (humoral).
Pulmonary surfactant
- secreted by type II alveolar cells in the lungs
- its primary role is to reduce surface tension, thereby decreasing the work of breathing and preventing alveolar collapse (atelectasis).
• The synthesis and release of surfactant are regulated by various factors, including mechanical stretching of the alveoli during breathing and hormonal signals such as cortisol binding.
• Surfactant is stored in lamellar bodies within these cells and is released into the alveolar surface as a fluid film, where it rapidly spreads to reduce surface tension and enhance alveolar stability.