Compliance (physiology)

Compliance (pronounced: /kəmˈplʌɪəns/), in the context of physiology, refers to the ability of a hollow organ or tissue to stretch or expand. The term is derived from the Latin word complere, meaning "to fill up".

Definition

In physiology, compliance is a measure of the tendency of a hollow organ to increase in volume with increasing transmural pressure or the pressure across the wall of the organ. The greater the compliance, the more the volume will increase with a given increase in transmural pressure.

Types of Compliance

There are two main types of compliance in physiology:

Lung Compliance: This refers to the measure of the lung's ability to stretch and expand. Factors affecting lung compliance include the elasticity of the lung tissue and the surface tension at the air-water interfaces within the alveoli.

Vascular Compliance: This refers to the measure of the volume changes in a blood vessel for a given change in pressure. It is a key factor in the relationship between blood volume, blood pressure, and heart rate.

Factors Affecting Compliance

Several factors can affect the compliance of an organ or tissue. These include the elasticity of the tissue, the volume of the organ, and the transmural pressure. Diseases and conditions such as emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and atherosclerosis can significantly alter the compliance of the lungs and blood vessels, respectively.

Clinical Significance

Compliance is a crucial concept in understanding many physiological and pathological processes. For instance, decreased lung compliance can lead to respiratory disorders like pulmonary edema and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Similarly, decreased vascular compliance can result in conditions like hypertension and heart failure.

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Compliance (physiology)