L1 2 PDF
L1 2 PDF
L1 2 PDF
Lung/PHYO2202//Respiration/15-16
MECHANICS OF BREATHING
When the respiratory system is totally relaxed, i.e. at the end-expiratory position, the lungs tend to
recoil inwards and the chest-wall tends to recoil outwards.
The larger the lung volume, the greater the lung recoil pressure. At the level of total lung capacity,
lung recoil pressure is maximal.
The chest-wall has a volume of about 60% vital capacity (VC) in its relaxed position. When
chest-wall is compressed to residual volume (RV), it tends to recoil outwards to its resting position.
When chest-wall is expanded to total lung capacity (TLC), it tends to recoil inwards to its resting
position.
When muscles of respiration are relaxed and the glottis kept open, the chest will take a
position, i.e. end-expiratory position (EEP), which is about 35% VC. The volume of air remaining
in the lungs is the functional residual capacity (FRC). No energy is required to maintain this
position. In order to exhale beyond EEP, one has to expand energy to overcome the outward recoil
of the chest-wall. In order to inhale beyond the EEP, one has to expand energy to overcome the
inward recoil of the lungs, but is helped by the outward recoil of the chest-wall. In order to inhale
beyond 60% VC, extra energy is required because the chest-wall is now recoiling inwards.
Learning objectives:
1
M.A. Lung/PHYO2202/Respiration/15-16
COMPLIANCE
Complinace is defined as the volume change per unit change in distending pressure (L/cm H2O). It
is the reciprocal of elasticity or elastance. For example, stiff lungs have a low compliance but a high
elasticity.
All measurements being made at the time of zero flow at the end of inspiration or expiration.
Total compliance is about 0.1 L/cm H2O, with pulmonary compliance and chest-wall compliance
each equals to 0.2 L/cm H2O.
1. size of lung.
2. posture.
3. age.
4. pathological conditions.
Learning objectives:
2
M.A. Lung/PHYO2202/Respiration/15-16
AIRWAY RESISTANCE
Airway resistance is the pressure difference between the alveoli and mouth divided by flow rate
(cm H20/L.sec).
Learning objectives:
3
Respiratory Physiology
Theme:
On Mechanical Properties of
Respiratory System
1
Events during the respiratory cycle
volume
airflow
2
Statics
Study of the stationary properties
of breathing apparatus -
properties independent of
movement during breathing
Volume
Factors affecting volume?
3
More elastic = More difficult to distend
Less elastic = Easier to distend
Vital Capacity: the volume of air breathed out after What determines the
the deepest inhalation elastic behaviour of
the lungs?
higher elasticity = higher recoil pressure
5
Total Lung Capacity = vol. in the lung at maximum inspiration
Air or Saline Inflation of Isolated Cat Lungs
Pressure required to
inflate air-filled lung >
pressure required to
inflate saline filled lung
What is happening at
air-liquid interface?
6
Surface tension at air-liquid interface
1. pressure added overcome such surface tension
2. then tissue elasticity
water Intermolecular
molecule force between
water molecules
alveolar
Resolved direction of surface tension
7
Determinants of Lung Recoil Pressure?
8
Surfactant: protein-carbohydrate-phospholipid complex
(produced by Type II epithelial cells)
T1
Insufficient surfactant
lacking surfactant = more contact surface area = more difficult to breath
T2
T2 > T1 (greater tension to contract
air-liquid interface)
11
1. Natural position is
at 60 %VC
2. size, outward
recoil pressure
compressing the lung > size decreases > outward recoil pressure increases
3. size, inward
recoil pressure
12
Mechanical relationship between the lung and chestwall
TLC
(Max. insp.) RPL(in) > RPC(in)
60%VC RPL(in)
FRC
(End exp.) RPL(in) = RPC(out)
RV
(Max. exp)
RPL(in) < RPC(out) 13
Why the end-expiratory position is considered as
the natural position of the respiratory system?
Lung inward recoil pressure balances chest wall outward recoil pressure
14
Compliance (distensibility)
= change in volume
change in distending pressure
Compliance = 1
elasticity
high compliance = easier to distend
increased elasticity = decreased compliance
15
Fundamental pressures
PB, barometric pressure
PA, alveolar pressure
PPL, pleural pressure
Derived pressures
PTP, transpulmonary pressure
PCW, transchestwall pressure
PTT, transthoracic pressure
1. Size of lungs
CL (children) < CL (adult)
Specific compliance = CL / FRC
(0.08/cm H2O)
2. Posture
Upright to supine position lung volume
( pulmonary blood volume;
diaphragm pushed forward)
CL
17
3. Aging and pathological changes on Lung Compliance
Increased
compliance Compliance
emphysema
loss of tissue elasticity
aging
Compliance
fibrosis
increased tissue elasticity
edema
18
Give 4 factors that can affect lung compliance.
19
Learning Objectives
On Static Properties of Respiratory System -
Airflow
21
Airway Resistance (Raw)
22
*
small airways disease > might not notice that, due to small contribution
Why the small airways contribute least to Raw?
Enormous cross-sectional area (dichotomous branching)
23
(by keeping the airway open)
alveolus
radial traction
on airway wall
outward
caused by lung
recoil pressure
physical
27
Learning Objectives
28
References
1. Human Physiology
The Mechanisms of Body Function
ed. Vander, Sherman & Luciano
(McGraw Hill)
2. Pathophysiology
Concepts of Altered Health States
ed. C.M. Porth
(Lippincott)