Question

If intrapulmonary pressure was 760 mm hg, what would you expect the intrapleural pressure to be?

Answer 1

Answer;

756 mm Hg

Explanation;

• Intrapleural pressure is the pressure of the air within the pleural cavity, between the visceral and parietal pleurae. This pressure changes during different phases of breathing.

• Due to certain characteristics of the lungs, the intrapleural pressure is always lower than, or negative to, the intra-alveolar pressure. It remains approximately –4 mm Hg throughout the breathing cycle.

• Therefore; if the intrapulmonary pressure was 760 mm hg then the intrapleural pressure will be (760 -4) mm Hg, that is 756 mm Hg