Respiratory System - Advanced Concepts

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Questions and Answers

Hyperventilation (very rapid, deep breathing) may cause unconsciousness because

  • Blood pCO2 is reduced so much that brain hypoxia occurs before an involuntary respiratory command is issued (correct)
  • Blood pO2 is reduced so much that brain hypoxia occurs before an involuntary respiratory command is issued
  • Blood pCO2 increases so much that hypercapnia occurs
  • Air does not remain in the lungs long enough to allow oxygen to be absorbed

Which is the main mechanism regulating breathing and respiratory distress?

  • Baroreceptors monitoring air pressure
  • Chemoreceptors monitoring the concentration of haemoglobin in the blood
  • Chemoreceptors monitoring pO2
  • Chemoreceptors monitoring pCO2 (correct)

In acidosis (blood pH below normal), haemoglobin:

  • Is unaffected at a given pO2
  • Binds more CO2 at a given pO2
  • Releases more oxygen at a given pO2
  • Releases less oxygen at a given pO2 (correct)

When body temperature rises above normal (37 deg C), haemoglobin:

<p>Releases less oxygen at a given pO2 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the oxygen-haemoglobin saturation curve?

<p>It expresses the relationship between pO2 and the level of haemoglobin saturation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The binding and dissociation of oxygen to haemoglobin is a typical reversible reaction. At equilibrium:

<p>Oxygen molecules bind to haeme at the same rate that other oxygen molecules are being released (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of rebreathing expired air?

<p>Increased pCO2 causes increased rate and decreased depth of breathing (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it possible to resuscitate a non-breathing casualty with expired air?

<p>Because air expired during normal breathing still contains sufficient oxygen to saturate haemoglobin (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does surfactant improve lung compliance?

<p>By reducing the surface tension of the fluid lining the alveoli. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is severely reduced lung compliance due to insufficient surfactant production which may occur in premature infants. It may be treated by:

<p>All of the above (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following structures produces speech?

<p>Larynx (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Emphysema (degeneration of lung tissue) is characterized by reduced elastic recoil in the lungs. How would this affect breathing?

<p>Difficulty breathing out (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Kussmaul, deep, rapid respiration as seen in uncontrolled diabetes, will:

<p>Decrease blood pH (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Carbonmonoxide combines irreversibly with haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin. This will cause:

<p>Severe tissue hypoxia (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the pressure in a gas as the volume of the container increases?

<p>Decreases (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What lung volume cannot be measured with a spirometer?

<p>Residual (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Total oxygen consumption over time can be used to calculate:

<p>Basal metabolic rate (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A significant factor in maintaining the normal pH of body fluids is the loss of which gas during external respiration?

<p>CO2 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

An increase in altitude causes a decrease in gas exchange efficiency because:

<p>there is a decrease in oxygen pressure, therefore less of a gradient into the lungs during inspiration (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Dalton's Law describes:

<p>the laws of partial pressures of gases (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Hyperventilation

Very rapid and deep breathing, leading to decreased blood CO2 levels, which can cause brain hypoxia due to reduced oxygen supply before an involuntary respiratory command can be triggered.

Main mechanism regulating breathing and respiratory distress

Chemoreceptors sensitive to CO2 concentration act as the main regulators of breathing rate and depth, ensuring adequate oxygen intake and CO2 removal.

Hemoglobin in acidosis

In acidic conditions, hemoglobin releases more oxygen to tissues, contributing to a lower pH.

Hemoglobin in increased body temperature

When body temperature rises above normal, hemoglobin releases more oxygen, aiding in increased oxygen delivery to tissues.

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Oxygen-haemoglobin saturation curve

The oxygen-haemoglobin saturation curve graphically represents the relationship between the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) and the percentage of haemoglobin saturated with oxygen.

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Oxygen binding to haemoglobin equilibrium

Oxygen binding to haemoglobin is a reversible process, and at equilibrium, the rate of oxygen binding equals the rate of oxygen release.

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Effect of rebreathing expired air

Rebreathing expired air leads to increased CO2 levels, causing a decrease in breathing rate and an increase in breathing depth.

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Resuscitation with expired air

Expired air still contains enough oxygen to saturate hemoglobin during resuscitation, enabling oxygen delivery to the non-breathing casualty.

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Surfactant effect on lung compliance

Surfactant reduces surface tension in the alveoli, allowing easier expansion of the lungs during inspiration and reducing the effort required for breathing.

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Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome results from insufficient surfactant production, leading to stiff lungs. Treatment involves providing surfactant from external sources, mechanical ventilation, and oxygen delivery.

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Structure producing speech

The larynx is the structure responsible for sound production, which occurs when air is expelled past the vocal cords.

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Breathing in emphysema

Emphysema, characterized by lung tissue degeneration, reduces elastic recoil, making it difficult to exhale air efficiently.

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Kussmaul respiration and blood pH

Kussmaul respiration, seen in uncontrolled diabetes, is characterized by deep, rapid breathing, which lowers blood pH.

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Carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide irreversibly binds to hemoglobin, forming carboxyhemoglobin, which prevents oxygen from being carried to tissues, leading to severe oxygen deficiency.

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Pressure in a gas with increasing volume

As the volume of a container increases, the pressure of the gas inside decreases, following Boyle's Law.

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Lung volume not measurable by spirometer

Residual volume, the amount of air remaining in the lungs after a maximal exhalation, cannot be measured with a spirometer.

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Total oxygen consumption and BMR

Total oxygen consumption over time can be used to calculate the basal metabolic rate (BMR), which represents energy expenditure at rest.

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Gas lost during external respiration for pH regulation

Loss of carbon dioxide (CO2) during external respiration, which is the process of gas exchange between the lungs and the environment, is crucial in maintaining normal blood pH.

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Effect of altitude on gas exchange efficiency

At high altitudes, the partial pressure of oxygen in the air is lower, leading to a reduced pressure gradient driving oxygen into the lungs.

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Dalton's Law

Dalton's Law states that the total pressure of a gas mixture is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of its individual gases.

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Study Notes

Respiratory System - Advanced

  • Hyperventilation can lead to unconsciousness because a reduced blood pCO2 (carbon dioxide) causes brain hypoxia (lack of oxygen) before involuntary respiratory responses kick in.
  • Chemoreceptors primarily regulate breathing and respiratory distress. They monitor CO2 levels. Baroreceptors, however, monitor air pressure.
  • In acidosis (low blood pH), hemoglobin releases less oxygen at a given pO2 (blood oxygen tension).
  • An increase in body temperature causes hemoglobin to release more oxygen at a given pO2.

Oxygen-Hemoglobin Saturation Curve

  • The oxygen-hemoglobin saturation curve shows the relationship between a person's blood oxygen tension (pO2) and the level of hemoglobin that's saturated with oxygen. This is vital to understand how much oxygen the blood can carry in different environments. It also shows the relationship between pO2 and tissue oxygen consumption.

Equilibrium for oxygen binding and dissociation

  • When oxygen binds to hemoglobin, it's a reversible reaction. At equilibrium, oxygen molecules attach to hemoglobin at the same rate that they detach.

Rebreathing Exhaled Air

  • Rebreathing exhaled air increases pCO2, which causes an increased and decreased breathing rate and depth.

Resuscitation with Exhaled Air

  • Expired air still contains enough oxygen to saturate hemoglobin, enabling resuscitation.

Lung Compliance and Surfactant

  • Surfactant in the lungs reduces the surface tension of the fluid in the alveoli (tiny air sacs in the lungs), improving lung compliance. This makes it easier for the lungs to inflate and helps them function efficiently.

Speech Production

  • The larynx is the primary structure involved in speech production.

Lung Disease (Emphysema)

  • Emphysema, a lung disease, reduces elastic recoil in the lungs. This impacts breathing negatively, creating challenges when breathing in and out due to the stiffness in the lungs.

Kussmaul Respiration and Diabetes

  • In uncontrolled diabetes, Kussmaul respiration (rapid and deep breathing) occurs. This is a method the body uses to decrease blood pH.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning

  • Carbon monoxide is hazardous because it binds irreversibly to hemoglobin, reducing its ability to carry oxygen. This causes severe tissue hypoxia (oxygen deficiency in tissues).

Gas Pressure and Volume

  • Increasing the volume of a container holding a gas decreases the gas pressure.

Lung Volume Measurement Limitation

  • Residual lung volume cannot be measured with a simple spirometer.

Oxygen Utilization and Metabolism

  • Measuring oxygen consumption over time helps determine metabolic rate.

Maintaining Normal Body pH

  • External respiration, where carbon dioxide is lost, plays a vital role in controlling blood pH.

Altitude and Gas Exchange Efficiency

  • At high altitudes, there is less oxygen in the air and thus a lower oxygen pressure gradient between the air and the lungs. This impacts gas exchange and can influence the number and size of red blood cells needed to carry oxygen, thus affecting the efficiency of the gas exchange.

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