What is pulmonary edema and diffuse interstitial fibrosis? If these cause ventilation-perfusion inequality, how will the lungs deal with this in terms of local homeostatic response?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Pulmonary edema is where, some of the alveoli may become filled with fluid. Edema is the accumulation of fluid in tissues; in the alveoli, this increases the diffusion barrier for gases. Diffuse interstitial fibrosis is where the alveolar walls become severely thickened with connective tissue (fibrotic) due to infection, autoimmune disease, hypersensitivity to inspired substances, exposure to toxic airborne chemicals, or many other causes. A decrease in ventilation within a group of alveoli leads to a decrease in alveolar PO2 and the area around it, including the capillaries and arterioles. This may cause a local homeostatic response within the lungs that leads to local vasoconstriction, diverting blood flow away from the poorly ventilated area. This local adaptive effect, unique to the pulmonary arterial blood vessels, ensures that blood flow is directed away from diseased areas of the lung toward areas that are well ventilated.
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