Illustrate the pressure-volume changes of the newborn’s lungs during the first 2 weeks of life?
Illustrate the pressure-volume changes of the newborn’s lungs during the first 2 weeks of life?
The most important transition from intra uterine life to extra uterine life is the establishment of successful pulmonary gaseous exchange. The fetus during the intrauterine life breathes by inhaling the amniotic fluid. After birth the mucus is aspirated through the mouth and nose. The first breath after birth inflates the lungs and decreases the lung pressure. The amniotic fluid in the lungs is drained or absorbed and the lungs start their function of inspiration and expiration by taking over the work of placenta. The pulmonary alveoli open and lung capillaries start filling with blood. Then the alveoli increase in number till the early childhood.
During normal breathing,a part of this fluid which is present inside the lungs is squeezed out as the thorax begins to compressed in the birth canal during normal birth. Also, elastic recoil of the wall of the chest inflates the lungs.
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