Week 5: Blood, Respiration, and Gas Exchange

Flashcards about blood, respiration, and gas exchange, covering composition, cell production, mechanics of breathing, and gas laws.

What are the major components of blood?

Plasma and cellular elements (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets).

What is hematopoiesis?

Synthesis of blood cells.

What is the function of erythropoietin (EPO)?

Influences growth or differentiation of red blood cells.

What does hematocrit measure?

Ratio of red blood cells to plasma.

What is the role of bone marrow in blood cell production?

It contains blood cells in different stages of development and supporting tissue known as the stroma.

What happens to red blood cells in a hypotonic medium?

They swell.

What happens to red blood cells in a hypertonic medium?

They shrink.

What happens to hemoglobin components as RBCs are recycled?

Hemoglobin components are recycled and remnants of heme groups become bilirubin, which is excreted in bile.

What causes jaundice?

Elevated levels of bilirubin.

What are some causes of anemia?

Accelerated red blood cell loss, defective red blood cell or hemoglobin synthesis, or inadequate dietary intake of essential nutrients.

What is the result of sickle cell disease?

A genetic defect in which glutamate is replaced by valine in the hemoglobin chain.

What are the three steps of hemostasis?

Vasoconstriction, Platelet plug, and Coagulation.

What is the role of thrombin in clot formation?

Converts fibrinogen to fibrin.

What are the four primary functions of the respiratory system?

Exchange of gases, regulation of body pH, protection from pathogens, and vocalization.

What is the definition of external respiration?

Movement of gases between the environment and the body’s cells.

What is the definition of internal/cellular respiration?

Intracellular reaction of oxygen with organic molecules to produce carbon dioxide, water, and ATP.

What is the function of pleural fluid?

Creates a moist, slippery surface for membranes to slide across and holds the lungs tight against the thoracic wall.

What are the two types of alveolar cells?

Type I (gas exchange) and Type II (secrete surfactant).

State Dalton's Law.

The total pressure of a mixture of gases is the sum of the pressures of the individual gases.

State Boyle's Law.

If the volume of a container of gas changes, the pressure of the gas will change in an inverse manner.

What does a spirometer measure?

The volume of air moved with each breath.

What is the meaning of the acronym IRV?

Inspiratory Reserve Volume

What is the meaning of the acronym ERV?

Expiratory Reserve Volume.

What is the meaning of the acronym VT?

Tidal Volume.

What are three functions of the upper airways during breathing?

Warming air, adding water vapor, and filtering out foreign material.

During quiet breathing, which muscles contract during inspiration

Diaphragm, External Intercostals

How is air flow related to pressure and resistance?

Air flow is directly proportional to change in pressure and inversely proportional to resistance.

What is pneumothorax?

Results in a collapsed lung that cannot function normally.

What is compliance regarding lung function?

Ability of the lung to stretch.

What is elastance regarding lung function?

Ability of the lung to return to its resting volume when the stretching force is released.

What does surfactant do?

Reduces surface tension, allowing alveoli to inflate equally.

How is total pulmonary ventilation calculated?

Ventilation rate x Tidal Volume.

How is alveolar ventilation calculated?

Ventilation rate x (Tidal Volume - Dead Space Volume).

What is hyperpnea?

Increased respiratory rate and/or volume in response to increased metabolism.

What is hyperventilation?

Increased respiratory rate and/or volume without increased metabolism.

What is hypoventilation?

Decreased alveolar ventilation.

What is dyspnea?

Difficulty breathing (a subjective feeling sometimes described as 'air hunger').

What is Fick's Law?

Diffusion Rate ∝ Surface Area x Concentration Gradient x Membrane Permeability / Membrane Thickness

What is hypoxia?

Impaired diffusion of gases between the alveoli and blood.

What are some causes of low alveolar PO2?

Inspired air has abnormally low oxygen content or alveolar ventilation is inadequate.

How many O2 molecules can hemoglobin carry?

4

Does a right shift of the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve increase or decrease affinity?

Decrease

What factors increase affinity for O2?

Decreased [H+], temp, CO2, 2,3 DPG

How is carbon dioxide transported in the blood?

Dissolved in venous blood (7%), converted to bicarbonate ion (70%), or bound to hemoglobin (23%).

What is the primary stimulus for changes in ventilation?

Changes in CO2.