Biol 2420 Lecture 13

Lung Volume Capacities

1. Tidal Volume

500mL at rest

volume that moves in and out at rest per breath

2. Inspiratory Reserve Volume

3L

maximal volume that can be inspired after a normal inspiration

3. Expiratory reserve volume

maximal volume that can be expired after a normal expiration

4. Residual volume

volume in lungs following a maximum expiration

5. Vital Capacity

the maximum amount of air that can be exchanged per breath

Air moves through the system by bulk flow

1. Atmospheric Pressure

P of outside air (760mmHg)

ALL OTHER P IS RELATIVE TO Patm

2. Intra-alveolar P (Palv)

P within the alveoli (-1 to +1 mmHg)

*air has much less resistance than liquid

the difference between Palv and Patm drives ventilation

Vol = Patm - Palv / R

if positive = air moves inwards, if negative air moves outwards (high P to low P)
3 Transpulmornary P (Tp = Palv - Pip)

pressure gradient between alveoli and pleural sac

4. Intrapleural pressure

pressure within the pleural sac (-7 to -4)

always negative during normal breathing, and always less than Palv

between breaths, the chest wall is compressed (pulling outwards)

lungs are stretched (pulling inwards)

Pip always changes throughout the cycle, but is always negative

Palv and Pip on a graph looks like sin and cos

Inspiration

Diaphragm and External intercostals contract

chest wall expands - lowering Pip, upping Tp

lung volume increases - lowering Palv

air flows in until Patm is equal to Palv

elastic recoil in the lungs and thoracic region cause passive expiration

contraction of internal intercostals and ab muscles during exercise or forced heavy breathing cause
active expiration

if pleural sac is punctured, Pip equilibrates with Patm causing sac to pop
Affecting Ventilation

1. Lung compliance - Cl

Cl = lung volume / Tp dependent on:

a. stretchability of lung tissue

goes down with age due to restrictive lung diseases

b. surface tension in alveoli

increases work of inspiration

surfactant lowers the cohesiveness increasing Cl

(released by type 2 cells when stretched)

premature babies have respiratory distress because they don't have surfactant
yet

2. Airway resistance

a. passive forces

changes that occur in a single breath

i. Tp

exerts force on cartilage free airways

airway radius increases during inspiration

ii. Lateral traction

small airways physically connected to surrounding alveolar tissue by elastic CT

fibre

b. Bronchial SM tone

i. NS and ES

parasympathetic releases ACh constricts bronchioles

little sympa stimulation but beta2 receptors relax airways (Epinephrine)

ii. Paracrine
 histamine contracts SM, stimulates mucus secretion

iii. CO2

dilates bronchioles when up PCO2