Physiology 2130 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Intrapleural Pressure, Transpulmonary Pressure, Alveolar Pressure
12 Jun 2016
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Document Summary
Transport of oxygen from air to blood. Removal of co2 from blood into air. Forming a line of defense to airbourne particles. Lungs are located in the thoracic cavity, surrounded by rib cage and diaphragm. Airways consist of the nasal cavity and the mouth, which join together at the pharynx. Pharynx leads into larynx (voice box), then becoming the trachea. Trachea divides into left and right bronchi, which continually divide into smaller bronchioles. Bronchioles continually divide and end in the alveoli (site of gas exchange in the lung) Pulmonary artery, which delivers deoxygenated blood to the lungs, branches extensively to form a dense network of capillaries around each alveolus. Capillaries and blood flow characteristics (thin endothelial walls, large total cross-sectional area, very low blood velocity) maximize gas exchange. In the capillaries, oxygen diffuses into blood while co2 diffuses out. From capillaries, oxygen-rich blood flows back to left side of heart through pulmonary vein.
