What effect does decreased compliance have on the overall breath cycle?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the physiological effects of decreased lung compliance during the breathing cycle. It seeks to understand how this decrease in compliance impacts various aspects of the breath cycle, such as airway resistance, duration of expiration, peak pressures, and inspiratory time.
Answer
Decreased compliance increases the work of breathing.
A decrease in compliance increases the work of breathing as the respiratory muscles need to exert more force to expand the lungs or chest wall.
Answer for screen readers
A decrease in compliance increases the work of breathing as the respiratory muscles need to exert more force to expand the lungs or chest wall.
More Information
Decreased compliance in the lungs or chest wall means they are less stretchy and harder to expand, leading to more effort required by respiratory muscles. This increased effort leads to a higher work of breathing (WOB), which can cause respiratory fatigue over time.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing increased compliance with ease of lung expansion. While decreased compliance requires more effort, increased compliance might also mean reduced elastic recoil (not necessarily better function).
Sources
- Lung Compliance - Medicine and Dentistry - ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information
