Respiratory System: Ventilation and Inhalation

Tidal Volume (Vt) = The volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a single respiratory cycle under resting conditions. Minute Ventilation (Ve) = The total volume of air entering and leaving the lungs per minute, calculated as the product of tidal volume and respiratory rate ($V_e = V_t \times f$). Alveolar Ventilation (Va) = The volume of fresh air that reaches the alveolar gas exchange areas per minute, accounting for dead space ventilation ($V_a = (V_t - V_d) \times f$). Dead Space Ventilation (Vd) = The volume of air that enters the respiratory system per minute but does not participate in gas exchange, typically residing in the conducting airways.

Dorsal Respiratory Group (DRG) = Primarily responsible for initiating inspiration and setting the basic respiratory rhythm via the phrenic nerve. Ventral Respiratory Group (VRG) = Functions mainly during forceful breathing, contributing to both inspiration and expiration by recruiting additional respiratory muscles. Pneumotaxic Center = Modulates the transition between inspiration and expiration, limiting inspiratory duration and thereby influencing respiratory rate. Apneustic Center = Promotes prolonged inspiratory efforts, which can be overridden by the pneumotaxic center under normal physiological conditions.

Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) = Non-invasive assessment of respiratory impedance, distinguishing between restrictive and obstructive pulmonary diseases. Esophageal Manometry = Measurement of intrapleural pressure, aiding in the assessment of lung compliance and work of breathing during mechanical ventilation. Multiple Breath Nitrogen Washout (MBNW) = Quantification of ventilation heterogeneity and assessment of early small airway disease through analysis of nitrogen elimination curves. Body Plethysmography = Precise determination of total lung capacity (TLC) and residual volume (RV), essential for diagnosing and classifying pulmonary function abnormalities.

<p>Bronchodilators (β2-agonists) = Induce smooth muscle relaxation in the airways by stimulating β2-adrenergic receptors, leading to bronchodilation. Corticosteroids (Inhaled) = Reduce airway inflammation by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators and suppressing immune cell activity. Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists = Block the action of leukotrienes, which are potent bronchoconstrictors and inflammatory agents, thereby improving airflow. Opioids (e.g., Morphine) = Depress central respiratory drive by binding to opioid receptors in the brainstem, leading to reduced respiratory rate and tidal volume.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction (HPV) = The physiological response where pulmonary blood vessels constrict in areas of alveolar hypoxia, diverting blood flow to better-ventilated regions of the lung to optimize gas exchange. High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) = A severe form of acute mountain sickness characterized by increased intracranial pressure due to cerebral vasodilation and fluid leakage, leading to neurological dysfunction. Breath-Hold Diving (Apnea) = A physiological challenge involving voluntary suspension of breathing, leading to progressive hypercapnia and hypoxemia, triggering protective cardiovascular and respiratory reflexes. Exercise-Induced Arterial Hypoxemia (EIAH) = The phenomenon observed during high-intensity exercise where arterial oxygen saturation decreases due to limitations in pulmonary gas exchange capacity relative to metabolic demand.</p> Signup and view all the answers