Pulmonary Pathophysiology Overview

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on pulmonary pathophysiology.

Conducting zone

Structures that move, warm, and filter air without participating in gas exchange.

Respiratory zone

The deep portion of the lungs where actual gas exchange occurs.

Alveoli

Tiny, balloon-like sacs at the terminal ends of the respiratory tree where gas exchange occurs.

Type I pneumocytes

Structural cells lining the alveoli.

Type II pneumocytes

Surfactant-producing cells found in the alveoli.

Mucociliary protection

Defense mechanism where mucus traps inhaled debris and cilia sweep it out of the airways.

Blood-gas barrier

An extremely thin membrane separating the alveolar air from the blood in the pulmonary capillaries.

Diaphragm

The primary muscle of inspiration that creates negative pressure in the chest cavity.

Lung compliance

The stretchability or distensibility of the lungs.

Elastic recoil

The natural tendency of lung tissues to return to their resting state after being stretched.

Boyle’s law

A principle stating that pressure and volume are inversely related.

Spirometry

A pulmonary function test measuring air volume and flow rate of inhalation and exhalation.

Tidal volume

The amount of air inhaled or exhaled during a normal breath.

Partial pressures

The pressure exerted by a single specific gas in a mixture of gases.

Dalton’s law

The total pressure of a gas mixture equals the sum of the partial pressures of its individual gases.

Fick’s law

The rate of gas diffusion across a membrane is proportional to surface area and concentration gradient, inversely proportional to membrane thickness.

External respiration

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the blood.

V/Q matching

The balance between ventilation and perfusion to ensure efficient gas exchange.

Feedback loops

A cycle where sensors send updates to the control center to adjust respiratory efforts.

Dissolved oxygen

A small fraction of oxygen that dissolves directly into the blood plasma.

Oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve

A graph showing the relation between the partial pressure of oxygen and hemoglobin saturation.

Cooperative binding

Phenomenon where the binding of one oxygen molecule to hemoglobin facilitates the binding of additional oxygen molecules.

Right/left shift

A right shift indicates decreased affinity for oxygen; a left shift indicates increased affinity.

CO₂ transport

Carbon dioxide is transported dissolved in plasma, bound to hemoglobin, or as bicarbonate.

Bohr effect

Increased CO₂ and acidity cause hemoglobin to release oxygen.

Haldane effect

The oxygenation of blood promotes the release of carbon dioxide.

Neural regulation

Breathing rhythm controlled by respiratory centers in the brainstem.

Central chemoreceptors

Chemoreceptors in the brain detecting pH changes in cerebrospinal fluid.

Peripheral chemoreceptors

Chemoreceptors in carotid arteries and aorta monitoring blood gas levels.

CO₂ / pH prioritization

Increased arterial CO₂ and decreased pH are the primary triggers for breathing.

Hypoxic drive

Significant drops in blood oxygen levels act as a secondary trigger for breathing.

Matching ventilation to metabolic demand

Adjusting respiratory rate and depth to match oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production.