BIO 208 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Pulmonary Compliance, Surface Tension, Asthma
Document Summary
Functions of respiratory system: air exchange between room and body. 2: protecting respiratory surfaces, sound production and olfactory cues, acid/base (ph0 regulation, the circulatory, lymphatic, and respiratory systems all work to perform what major function, decrease the diffusion distance and increase diffusion ef ciency. Ease with which lungs can be stretched. Easier it is to expand, less force or pressure needed to bring in a given volume of air: airway resistance. Regulates primarily by changes in radius - as radius decreases so then does air ow. Normally r is low so pressure doesn"t vary much. When r increases, a larger p is needed to produce the same ow. Factors affecting lung compliance: elasticity= more elastic tension > less compliant, surface tension of lungs. Causes alveoli to collapse or resist expansion. Surfactant- secretion that reduces surface tension making it easier for lungs to expand. Surfactant > compliance > ease of breathing.
