i. Describe the structure and function of the upper airway, lower airway, and alveolus.
ii. Describe the structure of the chest wall and diaphragm and relate this to respiratory mechanics.
iii. Outline the anatomy of the pulmonary and bronchial circulations.

i. Describe the control of breathing.

i. Describe the inspiratory and expiratory processes involving the chest wall, diaphragm, pleura, and lung parenchyma.
ii. Understand compliance (static, dynamic, and specific) and its measurement.
iii. Relate compliance to the elastic properties of the respiratory system.
iv. Describe the pressure volume relationships in the respiratory system.
v. Explain the concept of time constants.
vi. Explain the significance of the vertical gradient of pleural pressure and the effect of positioning.
vii. Describe the pressure-flow and flow-volume relationships of the lung.
viii. Describe the factors affecting airway resistance and its measurement.
ix. Explain the relationship between resistance and respiratory gas flow.
x. Describe the production, properties, and role of surfactant.
xi. Describe the work of breathing and its components.

i. State the normal values of lung volumes and capacities.
ii. Explain the factors that influence lung volumes and capacities.
iii. Explain the measurement of lung volumes and capacities.
iv. Define closing capacity, describe the factors that alter closing capacity, its clinical significance and measurement.

i. Describe the anatomical and physiological features of the pulmonary circulation.
ii. Understand pulmonary vascular resistance and the factors that affect this.
iii. Understand the differences between the pulmonary and systemic circulation.

i. Describe the concepts of global and regional ventilation and perfusion and the factors that affect these.
ii. Describe West’s zones of the lung and explain the mechanisms responsible for them.
iii. Explain ventilation-perfusion matching and mismatching. Explain the effect of ventilation-perfusion mismatch on oxygen transfer and carbon dioxide elimination.
iv. Define dead space and its components. Explain how these may be measured and describe the physiological impact of increased dead space.
v. Explain the concept of shunt, its physiological effects, and its measurement.
vi. Explain venous admixture, its relationship to shunt and ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch.

i. Describe and explain the oxygen cascade.
ii. Describe the movement of carbon dioxide from the cell to the atmosphere.
iii. Explain perfusion-limited and diffusion-limited transfer of gases.
iv. Define diffusing capacity and its measurement.
v. Describe the role of endogenous nitric oxide in ventilation and perfusion.

i. Describe the carriage of oxygen in blood.
ii. Explain the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve and factors that may alter it.
iii. Describe the carriage of carbon dioxide in blood.
iv. Explain the carbon dioxide dissociation curve.
v. Describe the oxygen and carbon dioxide stores in the body.
vi. Describe the physiology of foetal haemoglobin

i. Describe the measurement and interpretation of pulmonary function tests.
ii. Describe the carbon dioxide and oxygen response curves and how these may be used to assess the control of breathing.
iii. Understand respiratory equations that describe ventilation, perfusion, blood flow and respiratory mechanics.

i. Describe the physiological consequences of intermittent positive pressure ventilation and positive end-expiratory pressure.
ii. Explain the physiological effects of hyperoxia, hypoxaemia, hypercapnia and hypocapnia.
iii. Explain the effect of changes in posture on ventilatory function.
iv. Define humidification, outline the mechanisms of humidification and its importance.
v. Explain the pathways and importance of the cough reflex.
vi. Outline the non-ventilatory functions of the lungs.

i. Describe the pharmacology of oxygen.
ii. Describe the pharmacology of anti-asthma drugs.
iii. Outline the pharmacology of drugs used to treat acute pulmonary hypertension.

i. Describe the pharmacology of oxygen.
ii. Describe the pharmacology of anti-asthma drugs.
iii. Outline the pharmacology of drugs used to treat acute pulmonary hypertension.

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i. Describe the principles of pulse and tissue oximetry, co-oximetry including calibration, sources of errors and limitations.
ii. Describe the principles of capnography, including calibration, sources of errors limitations.
iii. Describe the methods of measurement of oxygen and carbon dioxide tension in blood.
iv. Describe the principles of measuring oxygen concentration.