Course: BIPN 102

TA: Irfan Haider

Section: Tue 6PM at Center 207

Worksheet 3

Email: ihaider@ucsd.edu
OH: Tue & Thur 9:30-10:45 AM
at PC Theater Lobby

1. a. What is an obstructive disease? What is a restrictive disease?

Obstructive lung disease is a category of respiratory disease characterized

by airway obstruction. It is generally characterized by inflamed and easily
collapsible airways, obstruction to airflow and problems exhaling.
Restrictive lung disease is a category of extrapulmonary or pleural diseases that
restrict lung expansion (e.g.: increased diffusion barrier thickness or lack of
surfactant).
b. Give an example of an obstructive disease.

Asthma: Decreases bronchiole radius due to smooth muscle spasm.

Bronchitis: inflammation due to infection decreases radius in the bronchi, increasing

resistance to airflow. Mucus build-up contributes to decreased radius as well.
Emphysema: When patients try to expire forcefully, their airways get compressed
more than normal because of destroyed elastic fibers, greatly increasing resistance
to airflow.
c. Given an example of a restrictive disease and explain why.

Pulmonary Fibrosis: collagen build up makes the lungs stiffer and harder to inflate.

Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome: lack of surfactant making it harder to inflate

lungs.

2. Compare and contrast obstructive and restrictive diseases by filling the table below
(increase; decrease; normal):
Obstructive disease Measured lung parameter Restrictive disease
Normal/
IRV (Inspiratory Reserve V.)

ERV (Expiratory Reserve V.)

Normal/
Normal/
RV (Residual V.)

VC (Vital Capacity)

Normal/
TLC (Total Lung Cap.)

Worksheet 3

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Course: BIPN 102

TA: Irfan Haider
Section: Tue 6PM at Center 207

Compliance
FEV1/FVC

Email: ihaider@ucsd.edu
OH: Tue & Thur 9:30-10:45 AM
at PC Theater Lobby

3. Explain what FEV1 and FVC stand for. Also, mention the ratios for normal lungs,
lungs with obstructive disease and lung with restrictive disease.

Expiratory Spirometer test will test the ratio of the volume expired during the first
second of expiration to the entire amount of air expired during the entire process of
expiration.
The first second of expiration is called the FEV1 (Functional Expiratory Volume in 1
second).
The entire volume that can be forcefully exhaled is called the FVC. The ratio between
the two can give us insight about the healthiness of the patient.
Normal FEV/FVC will equal to 80%.
Restrictive diseases will make the ratio >80%.
Obstructive diseases will make the ratio <80%.

4. For a person standing upright, indicate whether each property of the lung is higher
at the top of the lung or the bottom.
Note: Top refers to the apex of the lung. Bottom refers to the base of the lung.
Worksheet 3

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Course: BIPN 102

TA: Irfan Haider
Section: Tue 6PM at Center 207

Email: ihaider@ucsd.edu
OH: Tue & Thur 9:30-10:45 AM
at PC Theater Lobby

Higher
Top Bottom
Ventilation
x
Perfusion
x
V/Q ratio
x
Alveolar Compliance
x
PO2
x

Worksheet 3

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Course: BIPN 102

TA: Irfan Haider
Section: Tue 6PM at Center 207
5. What is Henrys Law?

Email: ihaider@ucsd.edu
OH: Tue & Thur 9:30-10:45 AM
at PC Theater Lobby

conc. of gas in a liquid = partial pressure of gas (gas phase) x solubility of gas in
liquid

6. a. What is the normal partial pressure of oxygen in the arterioles/arteries and

venules/veins? What is the normal partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the
arterioles/arteries and venules/veins?

Oxygen: 100 mmHg in arterioles/arteries and 40 mmHg in venules/veins.

Carbon dioxide: 40 mmHg in arterioles/arteries and 46 mmHg in venules/veins.

Extra Info:
Oxygen: 150 mmHg in fresh inhaled air and 100 mmHg in the alveoli
Carbon dioxide: 0 mmHg in fresh inhaled air and 40 mmHg in the alveoli

b. Although it may seem that Oxygen has a higher driving force (pressure gradient of
60 mmHg), Carbon Dioxide actually diffuses a lot faster than Oxygen. How does this
work?
The pressure difference for oxygen is 60 mmHg, while it is 6 mmHg for carbon
dioxide. However, the solubility of carbon dioxide is 20 times that of oxygen. So, 6
mmHg x 20 = 120 mmHg for carbon dioxide, a greater driving force.
c. What are the values of PO2 and PCO2 at:
The first 150 mL of expiration:

PO2 = 150 mmHg, PCO2 = 0 mmHg.

(due to dead space)

Last part of expiration:

PO2= about 100 mmHg or less, PCO2= about 46 mmHg or less

d. In normal conditions, uptake of oxygen is not limited by ____________________ but is

limited by ____________________. In a person with a respiratory disease, uptake of
oxygen is not limited by ____________________ but is limited by ____________________.
Answers: diffusion, perfusion, perfusion, diffusion.
Worksheet 3

Page 4 of 6

Course: BIPN 102

TA: Irfan Haider
Section: Tue 6PM at Center 207

Email: ihaider@ucsd.edu
OH: Tue & Thur 9:30-10:45 AM
at PC Theater Lobby

7. a. Describe the pressure and resistance in the pulmonary circulation vs. systemic
circulation. What accounts for the differences?
Pulmonary circulation has a much lower pressure and resistance. The systemic
circulation has higher pressure and resistance because it has to pump against
gravity and through a greater length (throughout the extremities).

b. If the pulmonary circulation experiences vasodilation, what must have happened

to venous and arterial pressures?
Pulmonary circulation must have experienced increased pressure from blood. This
vasodilation results in decreased resistance to blood flow (decrease in pulmonary
vascular resistance).
c. What are the two mechanisms by which pulmonary vascular resistance is
changed?
1. Distension: Increasing radius of the vessels. Think of Poiseuilles Law.

2. Recruitment: Increased number of blood vessels are opened up to blood flow

(increased cross sectional area).

8. a. What causes vasodilation in the systemic arterioles? Why? Which of these causes
is the most important for vasodilation to occur?

Decrease in partial pressure of oxygen (most important), increase in partial

pressure of carbon dioxide, decrease in pH. This works as a negative feedback loop.
b. What causes vasoconstriction in the pulmonary arterioles? Why?

All the same things listed for part a). When there are low levels of oxygen available,
certain arterioles are closed off to allow blood to perfuse past alveoli with the most
oxygen. This is the bodys way of picking up oxygen efficiently.

9. a. Lets say V/Q (ventilation/perfusion) ratio is optimal at a value of 1 for a specific

person. If a person has an overall V/Q ratio greater than 1, what does this say about

Worksheet 3

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Course: BIPN 102

TA: Irfan Haider
Section: Tue 6PM at Center 207

Email: ihaider@ucsd.edu
OH: Tue & Thur 9:30-10:45 AM
at PC Theater Lobby

alveolar PO2 and how will the bronchioles, pulmonary arterioles, and systemic
arterioles react?

This means that alveolar PO2 is increased and bronchioles will vasoconstrict,
pulmonary arterioles will vasodilate, and systemic arterioles will vasoconstrict.

b. If a person has an overall V/Q ratio less than 1, what does this say about alveolar
PO2 and how will the bronchioles, pulmonary arterioles, and systemic arterioles
react?
This means that alveolar PO2 is decreased and bronchioles will vasodilate,
pulmonary arterioles will vasoconstrict, and systemic arterioles will vasodilate.

10. Describe two serious physiological issues that can arise when someone is at very
high altitudes.

1. Cerebral edema: Increased blood pressure in brain due to dilation from low PO2
in the atmosphere causes net fluid movement out of the capillaries and into the
brain tissues. Since the skull is a non-expandable container, an increase in the
volume (due to excess fluid) will cause increase in pressure inside the skill. This
can be treated by putting the afflicted person in a pressure chamber with high
levels of PO2.

2. Pulmonary edema: The vasoconstriction of pulmonary arterioles throughout the

lungs results from low PO2 in the atmosphere. This vasoconstriction causes an
increased pulmonary arterial pressure, which combined with capillary damage
due to hypoxia causes more fluid to move into lung tissues and cause edema.
This makes breathing more difficult due to the increased distance that the gas
has to diffuse between alveoli and capillaries.

Worksheet 3

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