In a healthy person during normal breathing, the intrapleural pressure is always negative. This negative pressure helps to keep the lungs inflated and allows for the expansion of the thoracic cavity during inhalation. Intrapulmonary pressure, on the other hand, fluctuates with breathing; it becomes negative during inhalation and positive during exhalation.
Intrapulmonary pressure is the pressure inside the lung alveoli, while intrapleural pressure is the pressure in the pleural cavity. During normal breathing, intrapleural pressure is lower than intrapulmonary pressure, creating a pressure gradient that helps keep the lungs inflated.
The intrapulmonary pressure is the pressure in the alveoli. Intrapulmonary pressure rises and falls with the phases of breathing, but it ALWAYS eventually equalizes with the atmospheric pressure.
Intrapleural pressure is most negative at the completion of inspiration.
Intrapulmonary refers to inside the lungs, specifically within the lung tissue itself. Intrapleural refers to within the pleural cavity, the space between the membranes surrounding the lungs.
Intrapleural pressure rises and falls with breathing phases but eventually equalizes with atmospheric pressure. This pressure difference aids in lung expansion and ventilation by creating a pressure gradient for air to flow into and out of the lungs.
During the Valsalva maneuver, intrapulmonary pressure increases due to compressing the air inside the lungs while intrapleural pressure also increases due to the forced expiration against a closed glottis. This can lead to a decrease in venous return to the heart and a decrease in cardiac output.
Because the negative pressure is the major factor preventing the lungs from collapsing. If the intrapleural pressure became equal to atmospheric pressure the lungs would recoil and collapse.
Intrapulmonary Pressure
firstly the intraplural cavity is a closed space and pressure change is due to increased volume. For example with the contraction of the diaphram causing the intraplural cavity to increase in size and therefore reducing the pressure causing inspiration. Since the intraplural space is attached to the lungs, the lungs also expands, theoretically increasing space and therefore reducing volume. So if the intraplural pressure down, lung pressure will also go down and vise versa with exhilation. hope that helps.
Intrapleural pressure is maintained by the opposing forces of the elastic recoil of the lung and chest wall. During inspiration, the diaphragm contracts and the intercostal muscles expand the thoracic cage, causing a decrease in intrapleural pressure. This negative pressure helps keep the lungs inflated.
The lung will collapse (atelectasis) because the negative intrapleural pressure gradient that keeps the lung inflated has is now at equilibrium with atmospheric pressure.
Intrathoracic pressure, intrapleural pressure, and transmural pulmonary vascular pressure exhibit rhythmic variations with respiration. These variations are important for normal breathing mechanics and gas exchange in the lungs.