Chapter 39

PULMONARY CIRCULATION,
PULMONARY EDEMA, PLEURAL
FLUID
PHYSIOLOGICAL ANATOMY OF THE
PULMONARY CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
•Pulmonary vessels oFunction: nutritive
◦ Low pressure, high-flow
◦ Thin, distensible- high compliance
◦ Function: gas exchange
•Lymphatic vessels
•Bronchial vessels oBegin in the connective tissue
oHigh pressure, low-flow surrounding terminal bronchioles
oSystemic circulation, 1-2% CO oFunction: prevention of edema,
removing of particles
PRESSURES IN THE PULMONARY SYSTEM
 WEDGE
PRESSURE
BLOOD VOLUME OF THE LUNGS
- about 450 millilitres
- about 9% of the total blood volume
of the entire circulatory system
- approx. 70 millilitres are in the
pulmonary capillaries
The Lung Serves as a Blood Reservoir
- the quantity of blood in the lungs can vary from as
little as one-half normal up to twice normal.

Person blows out air Blowing a trumpet

Cardiac Pathology May Shift Blood from the
Systemic Circulation to the Pulmonary Circulation

failure of the left side

of the heart

blood to dam up in the

pulmonary circulation
BLOOD FLOW TO THE LUNGS AND
ITS DISTRIBUTION
Pulmonary vessels
- act as distensible tubes:
enlarge with increasing pressure
narrow with decreasing pressure
Decreased Alveolar Oxygen Reduces Local Alveolar
Blood Flow and Regulates Pulmonary Blood Flow
Distribution
- When the concentration of oxygen in the air of
alveoli decreases below normal, the adjacent
blood vessels constricts.
- The increase in pulmonary vascular resistance
as a result of low oxygen concentration has the
important function of distributing blood flow
where it is most effective.