Supporting Metabolism

Question 1

What is VO2?

Answer 1

Volume of oxygen used in the body per minute by metabolism.

VO2 =250ml/min

Question 2

What is VCO2?

Answer 2

Volume of Carbon dioxide produced in the body per minute by the metabolism

VCO2 = 200ml/min

Question 3

What is the respiratory Quotient?

What is the RQ at the whole body level?

Answer 3

RQ = VCO2 / VO2

RQ = 0.8 at whole body level

Question 4

What does metabolism use and produce?

Answer 4

Metabolism uses Oxygen and produces Carbon Dioxide

Question 5

At the whole body level, at rest, on average what percentage of energy comes from carbohydrates and fats?

Answer 5

At Rest:

Fats RQ - 70%

Carbohydrates RQ - 30%

Question 6

What are the key concepts with the functions of the respiratory system>

Answer 6

Functions relate to the anatomy.

All cardiac output flows through the pulmonary circulation

Question 7

What are the functions of the respiratory system?

Answer 7

Gas Exchange
Blood pH control
Removal of blood clots from the circulation
Immune function
Temperature control
Blood reservoir (pulmonary vessels)
Metabolic functions - activate/inactivate stuff

Question 8

What are the functions of the upper airways?

Answer 8

Filtering - the hairs take out substances which get trapped in the mucous
Warming - Blood in the upper airways acts like a radiator warming the air as it passes through ensuring that the alveoli membranes remain moist and warm.
Humidifying - this changes the pressures and volumes meaning that the membranes can remain moist for longer
Distribution

Question 9

What are the components of the upper respiratory tract?

Answer 9

Nasal Cavity
Pharynx
Larynx

Question 10

What are the components of the lower respiratory tract?

Answer 10

Trachea
Primary Bronchi
Lungs

Question 11

What is the function of the lower airways?

Answer 11

Conducting zone - air conducted through to the gas exchange regions
Respiratory Zone - gas exchange occurs in these regions

Question 12

What is the importance of the shared walls of the alveoli?

Answer 12

Makes the alveoli more stable.

Question 13

What is the function of the mucous elevator?

Answer 13

Particles that get down into the alveoli and surpass the filtration mechanisms are able to be moved up the respiratory tract via ciliated cells moving mucous to allow the particles to be later swallowed and removed.

Question 14

What are the functions of the cardiovascular system?

Answer 14

Transport - of nutrients and hormones.
Gas Exchange
Blood pH control
Immune function
Temperature control
Blood reservoir 
Metabolic functions

Question 15

What is the relationship between pressure, flow and resistance?

Answer 15

Pressure = flow x resistance

linearity is only true for laminar flow

Question 16

how does resistance work in the cardiorespiratory system?

Answer 16

Resistance works in both series and parallel.
Series - adding more increases the total resistance
Parallel - adding more decreases the total resistance

Question 17

What is the equation between pressure and height?

Answer 17

P = height x p(density) x gravity

All pressures are measured relative to atmospheric pressures

Question 18

What is the difference in pressures in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems?

Answer 18

Respiratory system has low pressures so units are cmH20 or kPa

Cardiovascular system has high pressures so units are mmHg

Question 19

Where would you measure respiratory pressures?

Answer 19

outside the chest wall (atmospheric pressure)
Inside between the pleural membranes
Inside the alveoli
Inside the airways.

Question 20

Summarise the concepts of the cardiorespiratory system and supporting metabolism

Answer 20

Primary phsiological role for the cardiorespiratory system is to support metabolism

Organisation and anatomy of the CRS allows it to have multiple other functions

Both systems have branching structures

Flow is determined by the relationship between pressure and resistance

cardiovascular system has a higher resistance and so recorded pressures are greater than in the respiratory system.