Question

An increase in lung compliance can enhance oxygen unloading because

1. it reduces resistance to air flow through the bronchioles.

2. it reduces the humidification of the air and thus maintains a higher alveolar PO2.

3. more fresh air can enter the lungs, leading to a steeper PO2 gradient across the respiratory membrane.

4. it reduces the thickness of the respiratory membrane.

Answer 1

a. It reduces resistance to air flow through bronchioles.

The Compliance of a system is defined as the change in volume that occurs per unit change in the pressure, basically it is measurement of elasticity of airway an lung parenchyma.

Lung compliance = Change in the lung volume/ Change in transpulmonary pressure

there are two types of compliance

1. Static compliance

2. Dynamic compliance

Dynamic compliance monitors both elastic and airway resistance.

Airway resistance depend upon viscosity, density, length & radius of airway.