Advanced Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology

I. Identify and describe the anatomy and physiology of the airways, alveoli, lungs, thorax,
and muscles. Describe and explain the mechanics of normal inspiration and expiration.
(F1, F2, F3, F4, F5 C5, C6, C7)
A. Differentiate between the structures of the upper and lower airways
B. Explain the primary functions of the upper and the lower airways
C. Identify the difference between conducting airways and the respiratory zones of
the lung
D. Describe how lung clearance mechanisms function and interact
E. Differentiate between the lobes and segments of the right and left lung.
F. Explain the effects of stimulation of each nervous system on the lungs and chest
wall.
G. Identify the spinal cord levels that correlate with diaphragm muscle function.
H. Explain the functional difference between primary and accessory muscles of
ventilation
I. Explain and describe pressure gradients that are important to ventilation and
inflation.
II. Describe the anatomical and functional difference of the cardiac, pulmonary, and
systemic cardiovascular system (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F12, C5, C6, C7).
A. Identify and describe the anatomical structures of the heart to include
1. Anatomy
2. Circulation
3. Cardiac conduction system
4. Innervation
5. Cardiac muscle
B. Describe the vascular system to include the structure and regulation of pressures
within the body.
C. Identify and describe circulation through the pulmonary system
D. Describe the lung zones as they pertain to ventilation and perfusion
E. Identify forces that govern fluid movement across the pulmonary capillary walls.
III. Identify the process of oxygen diffusion in the alveolar/capillary membrane. Describe the
relationship of diffusion and oxygenation at the lung level. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F12, C5,
C6, C7)
A. Identify diffusion gradients of respiratory gases.
B. Describe normal oxygen diffusion across the alveolar-capillary membrane
C. Explain the limitations of oxygen diffusion
D. Calculate and explain the Alveolar Air Equation and Alveolar to arterial
difference of oxygen tension.
IV. Identify clinical lab data utilized to identify disease process and abnormal health status of
patients. Describe the relationship of oxygen content, oxygen diffusion, oxygen delivery
and oxygen transport to the tissues. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F12, C5, C6, C7)
A. Identify normal and critical values of clinical laboratory data
B. Calculate and explain total oxygen content.
C. Describe the process of oxygenation at the tissue level.
D. Calculate and explain the A-v difference and mixed venous blood results.
E. Identify and explain the oxygen dissociation curve and its significance to oxygen
loading and unloading at the lung level and at the tissue level.
V. Describe and explain the inter-relationship of carbon dioxide partial pressure, dissolved
carbon dioxide, carbonic acid and alveolar ventilation (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F12, C5, C6,
C7)
A. Explain how carbon dioxide is produced and transported.
B. Describe diffusion of carbon dioxide at the lungs and the tissue level.
C. Identify and calculate minute ventilation and total ventilation.
D. Calculate and identify anatomic deadspace and alveolar ventilation.
VI. Describe the impulses responsible for ventilation as well as responses within the body
that changes ventilation. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F12, C5, C6, C7)
A. Identify and describe the medullary respiratory center and the responses for
ventilation.
B. Explain the pontine centers and their response for ventilation.
C. Identify types of reflexes that affect normal and abnormal ventilation.
D. Describe the central and peripheral chemoreceptors and their response for
ventilation.
E. Explain abnormal breathing patterns and the conditions in which they would be
present.
F. Describe compliance and resistance and the effects of each on ventilation.
G. Identify and define hyperventilation vs. hypoventilation.
H. Identify the normal capacities and volumes of the lungs and their significance.
VII. Identify normal solutions, body fluids and electrolytes. Describe acids and bases
normally found in the blood stream and the significance of acids and base imbalance.
Identify normal kidney anatomy and function. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F12, C5, C6, C7)
A. Identify normal and critical values of electrolytes.
B. Explain the relationship between electrolytes and acid-base regulation.
C. Identify the normal acids and bases in the body.
D. Describe acid-base balance and the role of the metabolic vs. the respiratory
system to maintain balance.
E. Identify the normal anatomy and function of the kidney system.
F. Explain the process of hydrogen ion regulation and the role of urinary buffers in
acid-base regulation.
G. Calculate the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation and the significance of the results.