Intrapleural pressure

In physiology, intrapleural pressure (also called intrathoracic pressure) refers to the pressure within the pleural cavity. Normally, the pressure within the pleural cavity is slightly less than the atmospheric pressure, in what is known as negative pressure.^[1] When the pleural cavity is damaged/ruptured and the intrapleural pressure becomes equal to or exceeds the atmospheric pressure, pneumothorax may ensue.

Intrapleural pressure depends on the ventilation phase, atmospheric pressure, and the volume of the intrapleural cavity.^[2]

At rest we have a negative intrapleural pressure. This gives us a transpulmonary pressure expanding the lungs. Intrapleural pressure is sub-atmospheric. This is due to the recoil of the chest and lungs away from each other.

Müller's maneuver can temporarily significantly decrease the intrapleural pressure.^[1]

References

1 2 Khanorkar, p. 205
↑ Blom, p. 7

Books

Blom, J. A. (2004). Monitoring of Respiration and Circulation. CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-2083-5.
Khanorkar, Sudha Vinayak (1 February 2012). Insights in Physiology. JP Medical Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5025-516-2.

Respiratory physiology

Respiration	breath inhalation exhalation respiratory rate respirometer pulmonary surfactant compliance elastic recoil hysteresivity airway resistance bronchial hyperresponsiveness constriction dilatation mechanical ventilation

Control	pons pneumotaxic center apneustic center medulla dorsal respiratory group ventral respiratory group chemoreceptors central peripheral pulmonary stretch receptors Hering–Breuer reflex

Lung volumes	VC FRC Vt dead space CC PEF calculations respiratory minute volume FEV1/FVC ratio Lung function tests spirometry body plethysmography peak flow meter nitrogen washout

Circulation	pulmonary circulation hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction pulmonary shunt

Interactions	Perfusion (V) ventilation (Q) ventilation/perfusion scan zones of the lung gas exchange pulmonary gas pressures alveolar gas equation alveolar–arterial gradient hemoglobin oxygen–haemoglobin dissociation curve (Oxygen saturation 2,3-BPG Bohr effect Haldane effect) carbonic anhydrase (chloride shift) oxyhemoglobin respiratory quotient arterial blood gas diffusion capacity (DLCO)

Insufficiency	high altitude oxygen toxicity hypoxia

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