BIOC33H3 : Lecture_10_Notes.doc
22 Feb 2012
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Lecture 10: lung mechanics (continued) and spirometry: the ideal gas law. Where p is gas pressure, v is the volume in which the gas is contained, n is the number of moles of gas, r is the universal gas constant, and t is temperature in degrees kelvin. Pressure can be calculated by the equation p = nrt/v. Boyle"s law, which states that for a given quantity of gas in a chamber, the gas pressure is inversely proportional to the volume of the chamber. There are three main pressures associated with pulmonary mechanics as well as two important pressure differentials. Air flow in and out of the lungs is caused by differences between atmospheric pressure and pressure inside the lungs (inter-alveolar pressure). If the former pressure is higher than the latter, air will flow into the lungs, and vice versa. We can calculate air flow via this equation: Air flow = (atmospheric pressure inter-alveolar pressure) / resistance.
