RRS | Lecture 8
RRS | Lecture 8
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Quiz Questions (7 questions)
1. The compliance of the lungs refers to the ability of the lungs to stretch and expand in response to changes in pressure. Higher compliance means the lung easily expands, and lower compliance indicates a stiffer lung that requires more pressure to expand.
2. Surfactant is a substance that reduces surface tension within the alveoli in the lungs, preventing them from collapsing and making it easier for them to inflate with air.
3. In preterm infants, surfactant deficiency leads to increased alveolar surface tension and decreased pulmonary compliance, making breathing difficult and potentially leading to respiratory distress syndrome.
4. Alveolar surface tension, which is reduced by surfactant, plays a crucial role in determining lung compliance. Lower surface tension allows the lungs to expand more easily, increasing compliance.
5. In conditions like emphysema, lung compliance increases because the elastic tissue in the lungs is destroyed, making the lungs more floppy and easier to expand.
6. In obstructive airway diseases, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), airway resistance increases because the airways are narrowed or blocked, making it harder for air to flow through.
7. Energy is required to overcome the viscosity of lung tissues and the thoracic cage during breathing, but not all energy in compliance work is directed towards overcoming viscosity.
Previous Exam Questions (19 questions)
1. The alveolar surface tension, which is a key determinant of lung compliance, is affected by the presence of surfactant, a substance that reduces surface tension and prevents alveolar collapse.
2. In respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants, higher pressures are required to ventilate the lungs because of insufficient surfactant, leading to increased alveolar surface tension and decreased lung compliance.
3. In a preterm infant with surfactant deficiency, the alveolar surface tension increases and lung compliance decreases, causing many alveoli to collapse at the end of each expiration, leading to pulmonary failure.
4. Emphysema, which is a disease that causes increased lung compliance, is characterized by the destruction of elastic fibers in the lungs, leading to a loss of elastic recoil and making expiration difficult.
5. The deficiency of alveolar surfactant in a premature baby born around 26 weeks is most likely due to the immaturity of type II alveolar cells, which are responsible for surfactant production.
6. The elasticity of lung tissues determines lung compliance by providing the necessary recoil to return the lungs to their resting state after inhalation.
7. Surfactant helps to prevent the alveoli from collapsing by interfering with the interaction of water molecules, thereby reducing the surface tension of alveolar fluid and ensuring easier lung inflation.
8. In a premature infant with respiratory distress syndrome, the failure of type II pneumocytes to complete differentiation and become functional leads to inadequate surfactant production and increased alveolar surface tension.
9. The primary function of surfactant in the lungs is to reduce surface tension in the alveoli and prevent their collapse, ensuring efficient gas exchange.
10. In emphysema, lung compliance is increased due to the destruction of alveolar walls, leading to a loss of elastic recoil and difficulty in expiration.
11. In a patient with severe bronchiolar constriction, airway resistance increases, leading to increased airway resistance work, which makes breathing more difficult.
12. The apneustic center in the pons is responsible for prolonging inspiration, while the pneumotaxic center promotes the termination of inspiration. The apneustic center, located in the lower pons, sends stimulatory signals to the inspiratory area in the medulla, extending the duration of inspiration. In contrast, the pneumotaxic center, located in the upper pons, modulates the activity of the apneustic center and inspiratory neurons to facilitate a smooth transition from inhalation to exhalation.
13. Compliance is the measure of the lung’s ability to stretch and expand, and its reciprocal term, elastance, refers to the resistance to expansion. Lung compliance is crucial for efficient breathing, as it determines how easily the lungs can fill with air during inspiration. Elastance, on the other hand, is the measure of the lung's ability to return to its original size after being stretched, which is essential for effective expiration.
14. Surfactant is composed primarily of dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine along with apoproteins and calcium ions, which enhance its spreading over the alveolar surface. The surfactant, produced by type II pneumocytes, plays a vital role in reducing surface tension at the air-liquid interface within the alveoli, preventing their collapse during expiration and ensuring stability during breathing cycles.
15. During inspiration, the elastin fibers in the alveolar walls straighten and rearrange, contributing to the elastic recoil necessary for expiration. Elastin is a key component of the extracellular matrix in the lungs, allowing for stretchability during inhalation and assisting in passive recoil during exhalation.
16. The distorting forces between the lungs and the chest wall are maintained by the airtight intrapleural space, preventing lung collapse. This negative pressure environment ensures that the lungs remain inflated and closely apposed to the thoracic cavity walls, facilitating efficient ventilation.
17. The surface tension in the alveoli, which resists lung inflation, is counteracted by surfactant reducing the muscular effort required for ventilation. Surfactant decreases the work of breathing by minimizing the force needed to expand the alveoli, thus making breathing more energy-efficient, particularly during the initial breaths in newborns.
18. In diseases like lung fibrosis and pleural effusion, lung compliance decreases due to changes in the structure of the thorax or lung tissues. Lung fibrosis involves scarring of the lung tissue, which leads to stiffness and reduced volume capacity, while pleural effusion results in fluid accumulation, restricting lung expansion and increasing respiratory effort.
19. Half of the elastic recoil of the lungs is attributed to the elastic fibers, while the other half results from the surface tension at the air-liquid interface. This balance between structural elasticity and surface tension plays a critical role in maintaining lung stability and function during the respiratory cycle.
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**Physiology of Respiration: The Elastic Properties of the Lung** Understanding the **elastic properties of the lung** is crucial for appreciating how the respiratory system functions efficiently. The lungs, along with the chest wall that surrounds them, are elastic structures. This elasticity allo...
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What is lung compliance?
Lung compliance refers to the ability of the lungs to stretch and expand in resp...
What is lung compliance?
Lung compliance is the volume change that can be achieved in the lungs per unit...
What is the primary role of surfactant in neonates?
Surfactant in neonates is crucial for reducing alveolar surface tension, prevent...
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