Final answer:
Lateral decubitus position causes physiological changes, particularly affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. It can lead to anatomical shunts in the lungs and affect ventilation-perfusion ratios due to the influence of gravity on blood and air distribution when the body's position is altered.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'What physiological changes happen with lateral decubitus?' pertains to the changes in the body's physiology when a person is lying down on their side, known as the lateral decubitus position. In this position, the body experiences several physiological adjustments, especially in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. A term related to this concept is orthostatic hypotension, where a sudden change from a lying down to a standing position can cause dizziness due to a temporary reduction in cerebral blood flow.
A specific physiological change in this position is the potential for anatomical shunt effects on the lungs. Gravity affects blood distribution within the body, and when lying down, this impact of gravity on blood distribution and air filling in the lungs is equalized, which is different from when someone is upright. Furthermore, a physiological shunt can develop in situations where lung tissue might be compromised, such as with infection or edema, leading to uneven ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) ratios and impaired gas exchange.