Zhu: Pulmonary Ventilation Flashcards
(36 cards)
How is elasticity defined?
The ability to resume initial form. (Think of a balloon going back to it’s initial form after you blow air in it - very elastic)
What type of fibers aid in lung elasticity?
Collagen (help lung go back to its original form)
How is compliance defined?
stretchiness and distensibility
What is the relationship of elasticity and compliance?
They are inversely related. High elasticity means it’s strong enough to go back to it’s original form so it can’t be very stretchy = low compliance. bad balloon - blow it up and it doesn’t go back to its original form: low elasticity and high compliance
Why is there a pressure-volume difference in inspiration and expiration (WITHOUT surfactant)?
Hysteresis: difference between surface tension
How does elasticity of the lung change in emphysema?
elastic fibers are lost. “Destruction of the normal architecture of the lung” elasticity is decreased, so compliance is increased
How does elasticity of the lung change in pulmonary fibrosis?
Elasticity is increased. Lungs are stiff. “Marked thickening of the alveolar walls (extensive collagen deposition)” Compliance is decreased, therefore it’s hard to stretch/inhale.
The tendency of water molecules to bond together (versus water with air) _____________ surface area and ____________ surface tension.
decreases; increases
What causes the increased surface tension on alveoli?
a gas-water interface
What protects against collapse of alveoli with increased surface tension
Surfactant
Surface tension on alveoli _______________ compliance. Surfactant _______________ surface tension.
decreases; decreases. (think of a tension weight on top of the alveoli): surface tension decreases compliance and makes it harder to expand. Surfactant reduces the surface tension so alveoli can expand.
Your patient has a hard time on inhalation. You suspect her problem to be due to a loss of what type of cell?
alveolar Type II epithelial cells (they make surfactant)
Your patient has a hard time on inhalation. You suspect to find a decrease in?
-Ca2+ -DPPC (phospholipid dipalmitoyl phosphatidycholine) (*major component of surfactant) surfactant apoproteins
Your patient is pregnant at 25 weeks and is asking what complications she may have if she goes into labor this week or next. What do you tell her?
Baby will be a risk of IRDS: infant respiratory distress syndrome preemies have a hard time breathing due to lack of enough surfactant. It begins production around 24-28 weeks of gestation and gets to be sufficient around 35 weeks gestation.
Pressure and surface tension equation
P=(2*Surface tension)/Radius of alveolus surface tension is decreased by surfactant. a larger radius will have a decreased surfactant to alveolar surface area ratio and thus higher surface tension INCREASED PRESSURE IS THE DRIVING FORCE FOR MOVEMENT
***Three main functions of surfactant?
- increased COMPLIANCE (by huge reduction in ST) 2. Promote alveoli STABILITY 3. Keeps alveoli DRY
***Lack of surfactant leads to?
- reduced COMPLIANCE 2. alveolar ATELACTASIS (collapse) 3. Pulmonary EDEMA (lungs wet)
What is airflow frictional resistance due to?
20% tissue or viscous resistance (lung parenchyma, chest wall, abdominal structures) 80% airway resistance
What are the muscles of expiration and are they active or passive?
PASSIVE. (diaphragm relaxes) -INternal intercostals -abdominal muscles (during exercise)
What are the muscles of inspiration and are the active or passive?
ACTIVE. (diaphragm pushes down and out/lung vol is increased) -diaphragm -EXternal intercostals (during exercise) -also during exercise: SCM, anterior serratus, scalene muscles, alas nasi (nose)
Given Boyle’s Law, how are pressure and volume related?
Inversely proportional P1V1 = P2V2
Normal atmospheric pressure?
760 mmHg. In medicine = reference point is 0. So if P=+5; it’s 765.
What is the normal intrapleural pressure?
-5 cm H2O
On inspiration, the pleural pressure ___________.
decreases. Goes from -5 to -8.


