Pulmonary Circulation Quiz

Study Notes

Pulmonary Circulation: Pressures, Resistance, and Oedema

The pulmonary circulation consists of two blood supplies to the lungs: bronchial and pulmonary
The pulmonary circulation is responsible for transporting deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the alveolar capillaries and returning oxygenated blood to the left atrium
The pulmonary circuit receives the same volume of blood as the systemic circulation, but it is a low pressure system
The pulmonary circulation has low resistance due to capillary recruitment and distension
Oxygen is a crucial factor in pulmonary circulation and hypoxia leads to constriction, known as hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction
Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction shunts blood away from poorly ventilated areas and matches ventilation with perfusion
The effect of gravity on flow causes three regions of lung perfusion: zone 1 (apex), zone 2 (middle), and zone 3 (base)
Pulmonary oedema occurs due to an imbalance in Starling forces or failure to clear fluid, which increases the diffusion distance for oxygen and decreases lung compliance
Major causes of pulmonary oedema are rises in pulmonary capillary pressure, high altitude causing hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and increases in pulmonary capillary permeability
The low pressure nature of the pulmonary circulation means capillary pressure is low, and lymphatic pumping means interstitial pressure is lower
The net filtration pressure in the pulmonary circulation is (Pc − Pi) − (πc − πi), and it is lower than in the systemic circulation
The pulmonary circulation has limited extrinsic control, and resistance is controlled by local factors.

Pulmonary Circulation: Pressures, Resistance, and Oedema

The pulmonary circulation consists of two blood supplies to the lungs: bronchial and pulmonary
The pulmonary circulation is responsible for transporting deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the alveolar capillaries and returning oxygenated blood to the left atrium
The pulmonary circuit receives the same volume of blood as the systemic circulation, but it is a low pressure system
The pulmonary circulation has low resistance due to capillary recruitment and distension
Oxygen is a crucial factor in pulmonary circulation and hypoxia leads to constriction, known as hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction
Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction shunts blood away from poorly ventilated areas and matches ventilation with perfusion
The effect of gravity on flow causes three regions of lung perfusion: zone 1 (apex), zone 2 (middle), and zone 3 (base)
Pulmonary oedema occurs due to an imbalance in Starling forces or failure to clear fluid, which increases the diffusion distance for oxygen and decreases lung compliance
Major causes of pulmonary oedema are rises in pulmonary capillary pressure, high altitude causing hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and increases in pulmonary capillary permeability
The low pressure nature of the pulmonary circulation means capillary pressure is low, and lymphatic pumping means interstitial pressure is lower
The net filtration pressure in the pulmonary circulation is (Pc − Pi) − (πc − πi), and it is lower than in the systemic circulation
The pulmonary circulation has limited extrinsic control, and resistance is controlled by local factors.

Pulmonary Circulation: Pressures, Resistance, and Oedema

The pulmonary circulation consists of two blood supplies to the lungs: bronchial and pulmonary
The pulmonary circulation is responsible for transporting deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the alveolar capillaries and returning oxygenated blood to the left atrium
The pulmonary circuit receives the same volume of blood as the systemic circulation, but it is a low pressure system
The pulmonary circulation has low resistance due to capillary recruitment and distension
Oxygen is a crucial factor in pulmonary circulation and hypoxia leads to constriction, known as hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction
Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction shunts blood away from poorly ventilated areas and matches ventilation with perfusion
The effect of gravity on flow causes three regions of lung perfusion: zone 1 (apex), zone 2 (middle), and zone 3 (base)
Pulmonary oedema occurs due to an imbalance in Starling forces or failure to clear fluid, which increases the diffusion distance for oxygen and decreases lung compliance
Major causes of pulmonary oedema are rises in pulmonary capillary pressure, high altitude causing hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and increases in pulmonary capillary permeability
The low pressure nature of the pulmonary circulation means capillary pressure is low, and lymphatic pumping means interstitial pressure is lower
The net filtration pressure in the pulmonary circulation is (Pc − Pi) − (πc − πi), and it is lower than in the systemic circulation
The pulmonary circulation has limited extrinsic control, and resistance is controlled by local factors.