KINE 3012 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Respiratory Tract, Intrapleural Pressure, Extracellular Fluid
Document Summary
Parts in the conducting zone aren"t specialized for gas exchange. Most of the gas exchange occurs in the alveoli, made mostly of smooth muscle. Changing the radius in the conducting zone, it changes air flows. Cystic fibrosis, mutation in 1 protein causes mucous to fills the lungs, if in alveoli it stops gas exchange. Alveoli are 1 cell thick for easy gas exchange. By having a balloon like structure, huge surface area. Distance between capillaries and alveoli is 0. 5um. Diffusion doesn"t move that far, e. g. the smell of food/skunk. So for it to be optimal, it has to be a close distance. The more interstitial fluid between the capillaries and alveoli reduces gas diffusion. Type 1 alveoli cell - gas exchange. Type 2 alveoli cell - secretes surfactant, cleaning agent , reduces surface tension of the water, so the water doesn"t stick onto the cell making it easier to inflate the lungs.