8 Ventilation and Perfusion Flashcards
1
Q
Ventilation
A
- The repetitive movement of gas into and out of the lungs
- Delivers the oxygen and removes the carbon dioxide that is exchanged across the alveolar-capillary interface
2
Q
Lung volumes and capacities
- Tidal volume (VT)
- Residual volume (RV)
- Expiratory reserve volume (ERV)
- Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV)
A
-
Tidal volume (VT)
- Volume of gas inhaled (or exhaled) during a breath
- ~500ml in a resting adult
- Increases as needed to meet the metabolic demands of the body (e.g. during exercise)
-
Residual volume (RV)
- Amount of gas remaining in the lungs after a maximal expiration
- Determined primarily by the inward pressure generated by the expiratory muscles and by the outward elastic recoil of the respiratory system
- ~1.5L in a normal adult
-
Expiratory reserve volume (ERV)
- Volume of gas that can be forced from the lungs starting at the end of a normal tidal expiration
-
Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV)
- Volume of gas that can be inhaled during a maximal inspiration starting at the end of a normal tidal inspiration
3
Q
Lung volumes and capacities
- Functional residual capacity (FRC)
- Total lung capacity (TLC)
- Vital capacity (VC)
- Inspiratory capacity (IC)
A
-
Functional residual capacity (FRC)
- Volume remaining in the lungs at the end of a passive expiration
- Represents the equilibrium position of the respiratory system
- The point at which the inward elastic recoil of the lungs is balanced by the outward recoil of the chest wall
- Sum of the residual and the expiratory reserve volumes
- FRC = RV + ERV
-
Total lung capacity (TLC)
- Volume in the lungs at the end of a maximal inspiration
- Determined by the maximum force generated by the inspiratory muscles and by the inward elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall
-
Vital capacity (VC)
- Volume of gas that can be exhaled during a maximal effort beginning at the end of a maximal inspiration
- Sum of the IRV, ERV, and VT
- Difference between TLC and RV
- VC = TLC - RV
-
Inspiratory capacity (IC)
- Amount of gas that enters the lungs during a maximal inspiration beginning at the end of a normal tidal expiration
- Sum of the IRV and VT
- IC = IRV + VT
4
Q
Partial pressure of respiratory gases
- In a gas mixture, the pressure exerted by a gas is equal to…
- Dry air composition of O2, N2, & CO2
- Total barometric pressure (PB) at sea level
- Partial pressures of O2, N2, & CO2
A
-
In a gas mixture, the pressure exerted by a gas is equal to…
- The product of its fractional concentration (F) and the total pressure of all the gases in the mixture
- Pgas = Ptotal x Fgas
-
Dry air composition of O2, N2, & CO2
- FO2 = 0.21 (21%)
- FN2 = 0.79 (79%)
- FCO2 = 0.0004 (0.04%)
-
Total barometric pressure (PB) at sea level
- 760 mmHg
-
Partial pressures of O2, N2, & CO2
- PO2 = PB x F?
- PO2 = 760 x 0.21 = 160 mmHg
- PN2 = 760 x 0.79 = 600 mmHg
- PCO2 = 760 x 0.0004 = 0.3 mmHg
5
Q
Partial pressure of respiratory gases
- Partial pressure of the water vapor (PH2O)
- When air enters the conducting airways of the lungs…
- Calculation of partial pressure of inspired gas in the airways (PIgas)
- Partial pressures of O2, N2, & CO2
A
-
Partial pressure of the water vapor (PH2O)
- ~47 mmHg at body temperature
- When air enters the conducting airways of the lungs…
- It is heated and humidified
- Total pressure exerted by dry gas decreases
- Partial pressure of each gas falls
- Calculation of partial pressure of inspired gas in the airways (PIgas)
- PIgas = (PB – PH2O) x Fgas
-
Partial pressures of O2, N2, & CO2
- PIO2 = (760 – 47) x 0.21 = 150mmHg
- PIN2 = (760 – 47) x 0.79 = 150mmHg
- PICO2 = (760 – 47) x 0.0004 = 150mmHg
6
Q
Partial pressure of respiratory gases
- Once gas enters the alveoli…
- The partial pressure of gases in the alveoli…
- For practical purposes, we can assume that the mixed alveolar PCO2 (PACO2)…
A
- Once gas enters the alveoli…
- Diffusion occurs leading to a drop in the PO2 and an increase in PCO2
- The partial pressure of gases in the alveoli…
- Cannot be measured, but they can be estimated
- For practical purposes, we can assume that the mixed alveolar PCO2 (PACO2)…
- Is equal to the PCO2 of arterial blood (PaCO2)
7
Q
Partial pressure of respiratory gases:
Alveolar air equation
- PAO2
- PA-aO2 gradient
A
-
Used to calculate the average alveolar PO2 (PAO2) assuming “ideal” conditions (i.e. no mismatching of ventilation and perfusion)
- PAO2 = [(PB – PH2O) * FIO2] – [PACO2 / R]
- PACO2 = PaCO2 = 40 mmHg
- R = VCO2 / VO2 = 0.8
- PAO2 = [(760 - 47) * 0.21] - [40 / 0.8] = 100 mmHg
-
Used to derive the PA-aO2 or the A-a gradient
- Difference between the calculated alveolar and the measured arterial PO2 (always exists)
- Normally 8-12 mmHg
- Increases in the presence of ventilation-perfusion mismatching, shunt, and diffusion impairment
8
Q
Partial pressure of respiratory gases
- Respiratory exchange ratio (R)
- Partial pressure of O2, CO2, & N2 in the alveoli
A
- Respiratory exchange ratio (R)
- Volume of CO2 that enters the alveoli divided by the volume of O2 that diffuses into the pulmonary capillary blood over a given period of time (VCO2/VO2)
- Ratio of CO2 produced to O2 consumed by the tissues
- Assumed to be 0.8
- There is more O2 leaving the lung than CO2 entering it
- PO2 will fall by more than the increase in PACO2
- It will decrease by PACO2/R
- Volume of CO2 that enters the alveoli divided by the volume of O2 that diffuses into the pulmonary capillary blood over a given period of time (VCO2/VO2)
-
Partial pressure of O2, CO2, & N2 in the alveoli
- PAO2 = 100 mmHg
- PACO2 = 40 mmHg
- PAN2 = 573 mmHG
9
Q
The oxygen cascade
- Wordy explanation
- Numeral explanation
A
- Wordy explanation
- Air comes in at 160
- Once it enters our conducting airways, it’s 150
- Then it drops to 100 by the time it gets to the alveoli
- Difference b/n alveolar gas and arteriolar blood: A-a gradient
- As the blood is carried to the tissues, the PO2 really drops
- By the time it gets to the capillaries, there’s very little PO2
- Estimated mitochondria PO2 = 5
- Numeral explanation
- Air
- PO2 = 160
- PCO2 = 0
- Airways
- PO2 = 150
- PCO2 = 0
- Alveoli
- PO2 = 100
- PCO2 = 40
- Arterial
- PO2 = 95
- PCO2 = 40
- Mixed venous
- PO2 = 40
- PCO2 = 46
- Air
10
Q
Dead space
- Dead space
- Alveolar dead space
- Physiologic dead space
A
-
Dead space
- A significant portion of each tidal breath never reaches the alveoli
- Volume of gas that fills the nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, and conducting airways
- Since this gas is never in contact with pulmonary capillary blood, it does not participate in gas exchange
- Varies with body (and airway) size
- Although it can be measured, for practical purposes it is often estimated as 1ml per pound of ideal body weight
- Alveolar dead space
- Another portion of the tidal breath that reaches alveoli that either
- Receive no blood flow
- Are under-perfused relative to the amount of ventilation they receive
- Another portion of the tidal breath that reaches alveoli that either
- Physiologic dead space
- Sum of the anatomic and alveolar dead space
11
Q
Volumes (L)
- Tidal volume (VT)
- Dead space
- Dead space volume (VD)
- Alveolar volume
A
- Tidal volume (VT)
- Volume of gas that enters the lungs during a single breath
-
Dead space
- A significant portion of each tidal breath never reaches the alveoli
- Volume of gas that fills the nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, and conducting airways
- Since this gas is never in contact with pulmonary capillary blood, it does not participate in gas exchange
- Varies with body (and airway) size
- Although it can be measured, for practical purposes it is often estimated as 1ml per pound of ideal body weight
-
Dead space volume (VD)
- Amount of gas entering the physiologic dead space
- The volume of each breath that does not participate in gas exchange
- Anatomic + alveolar dead space
-
Alveolar volume (VA)
- Volume of gas that actually reaches the alveoli and participates in gas exchange during a tidal breath
-
Difference between tidal volume and dead space volume
- VA = VT - VD
- If take a breath in of 500 ml and have a dead space of 200 ml, then true alveolar volume that participates in gas exchange is 300 ml
12
Q
Ventilations (L/min)
- Minute ventilation (VE)
- Dead space ventilation (VD)
- Alveolar ventilation (VA)
A
-
Minute ventilation (VE)
- Total volume of gas that enters or leaves the lungs each minute
- Product of tidal volume and respiratory rate (RR)
- VE = VT x RR
-
Dead space ventilation (VD)
- Volume of gas that enters and leaves the physiologic dead space each minute
- VD = VD x RR
-
Alveolar ventilation (VA)
-
Volume of gas entering and leaving the lungs each minute that participates in gas exchange
- VA = VA x RR
- Difference between minute ventilation and dead space ventilation
- VA = VE – VD
-
Volume of gas entering and leaving the lungs each minute that participates in gas exchange
13
Q
The influence of alveolar ventilation on PACO2
- The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the alveolar gas (PACO2) is determined by…
- CO2 removal from alveoli vs. alveolar ventilation
- PACO2 vs. VA
- PACO2 equations
- PaCO2 equations
A
-
PACO2 and PaCO2 are directly related to…
- The rate at which CO2 enters the alveoli
-
The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the alveolar gas (PACO2) is determined by…
- The rate at which CO2 is produced by the tissues (VCO2)
- The rates at which CO2 enters and leaves the alveoli
- –> proportional to the partial pressure of CO2 in mixed venous blood (PvCO2)
- –> –> depends on the rate of CO2 production by the tissues (VCO2)
- PACO2 α VCO2
- CO2 removal from alveoli vs. alveolar ventilation
- The rate at which CO2 is removed from the alveoli is directly proportional to alveolar ventilation
-
PACO2and PaCO2 vs. VA
-
PACO2 and PaCO2 are inversely related to the rate at which CO2 is removed from the alveoli
- Determined by alveolar ventilation (VA)
- PACO2 α 1 / VA
-
PACO2 and PaCO2 are inversely related to the rate at which CO2 is removed from the alveoli
- PACO2 equations
- PACO2 α VCO2 / VA
- PACO2 = K x VCO2 / VA
- PaCO2 equations
- Alveolar and arterial PCO2 are essentially equal
- PaCO2 = K x VCO2 / VA
- PaCO2 = K x VCO2 / (VE - VD)
-
PaCO2 = K x VCO2 / VE [1 – (VD / VT)]
- As VD/VT rises, VE must increase to maintain the same PaCO2
14
Q
The influence of alveolar ventilation on PAO2
A
- Unlike PACO2 (and PaCO2), alveolar ventilation does not directly affect PAO2
- Instead, its effect is indirect and produced by changes in PACO2
- By examining the alveolar air equation, it is evident that PAO2 and PACO2 must move in opposite directions
- When PACO2 increases, PAO2 decreases
- When PACO2 decreases, PAO2 increases
15
Q
Regional distribution of alveolar ventilation
- In normal subjects, who are either seated or standing, the volume of air reaching the alveoli…
- Although a single value is often used to describe the pressure in the pleural space, in an upright subject, pleural pressure…
- Since the pressure in all alveoli is zero (atmospheric) at the end of a passive exhalation, the transpulmonary pressure…
- During inspiration, trans-pulmonary pressure…
- Since alveoli in the non-dependent regions already have a relatively high volume, they are…
A
- In normal subjects, who are either seated or standing, the volume of air reaching the alveoli…
- Increases from the apex to the base of the lungs
- This causes ventilation to increase from the top to the bottom of the lungs
- This can be explained by gravity-induced changes in pleural pressure
- Although a single value is often used to describe the pressure in the pleural space, in an upright subject, pleural pressure…
- Progressively increases (becomes less negative) between the top (apex) and bottom (base) of the lungs
- Since the pressure in all alveoli is zero (atmospheric) at the end of a passive exhalation, the transpulmonary pressure…
- Must be higher in the upper lung zones than in the lower zones
- This means that at end-expiration, alveolar volume is high at the lung apex and progressively falls in the more dependent regions of the lungs
- During inspiration, trans-pulmonary pressure…
- Increases equally regardless of alveolar location
- Since alveoli in the non-dependent regions already have a relatively high volume, they are…
- Less compliant than alveoli in the lower lung zones
- This means that for the same change in trans-pulmonary pressure, the amount of fresh gas entering the alveoli is greater in the dependent than in the nondependent regions of the lungs