Compliance
The less _______ the lungs are, the more work is required to produce a given degree of inflation
compliant
poor compliance =
stiff lung
compliance is decreased by factors such as
pulmonary fibrosis
Elastic Recoil
Elastic Recoil depends on 2 factors
- Alveolar surface tension
Alveolar surface tension
Surface tension
Unequal attraction of water molecules to each other at water air interface
The _______ the surface tension, the less compliant (stiffer)
greater
Emphysema:
loss of elastic
2 factors opposing alveoli collapse
- LaPlace
Surfactant
(surface active agent)
- lipids/proteins by pneumocytes II
> increases complicance, reduces recoil
LaPlace:
collapsing pressure ~ surface tension
collapsing pressure~ 1/radius
P=2T/r
Role of pulmonary surfactant in counteracting the tendency for small alveoli to collapse into larger alveoli.
Alveolar interdependence
Forces keeping the alveoli open
Forces promoting alveolar collapse
Work of Breathing
Work of breathing is increased in the following situations
Decrease in radius, increase resistance to airflow (airway). Caused by: - allergy-induced spasm - excess mucus - edema of the walls - airway collapse
Bronchoconstriction
Increase in radius of airway, decreased resistance to airflow
Hormone control:
Epinephrine
Bronchodilation
a device that measures the volume of air breathed in and out; it consists of an air-filled drum floating in a water-filled chamber. As a person breathes air in and out of the drum through a connecting tube, the resultant rise and fall of the drum are recorded as a spirogram, which is calibrated to the magnitude of the volume change.
A spirometer.
Variations in lung volume in a healthy young adult male.
Values for females are somewhat lower.
(Note that residual volume cannot be measured with a spirometer but must be determined by another means.)
vital capacity
The difference between the maximum volume of the lungs at maximum inspiration and the minimum volume of the lungs at maximum expiration
[the maximum volume of air that can be moved out during a single breath following a maximum inspiration.]