Human Anatomy and Physiology : Help with Other Respiratory Physiology
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Help With Other Respiratory Physiology
Why is part of the tidal volume considered "dead space" volume?
It does not make it into the respiratory system
It does not take part in gas exchange in the lungs
It completely loses all of the oxygen available to exchange with the blood
It remains in the lungs after exhalation
It does not take part in gas exchange in the lungs
Tidal volume is typically 500 milliliters, and is the amount of air that is moved by normal respiration; however, some of this air does not make it to the alveoli in order to take part in gas exchange. This air may simply remain in the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles, where gas exchange cannot take place. As a result, a portion of the tidal volume is considered "dead space" volume.
Dead space volume is a small fraction of the tidal volume, and is usually around 150 milliliters of air.
Example Question #32 : Respiratory Physiology
What term causes total lung capacity to differ from vital capacity?
Expiratory reserve volume
Tidal volume
Residual volume
Dead space volume
Residual volume
The vital capacity is defined as the maximum amount of air that a person can exhale after a maximum inspiration. This value does not incorporate the amount of air that remains in the lungs after the maximum expiration. This remaining volume of air is called the residual volume, and is included in the total lung capacity.
Tidal volume (TV) is the amount of air moved with each unconscious breath. Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV) is the volume of additional air that can be forcefully inhaled, and expiratory reserve volume (ERV) is the additional volume of air that can be forcefully exhaled. After a forced inhalation, the lungs contain a volume equal to the lung capacity. After a forced exhalation, a volume equal to the vital capacity has been exhaled and a volume equal to the residual volume (RV) remains in the lungs.
To sum it up using equations:
Example Question #1 : Help With Other Respiratory Physiology
What is the inspiratory reserve volume?
The amount of air that stays in the lungs following exhalation
The amount of air necessary to completely fill the lungs
The maximum amount of air that can be inhaled
The additional amount of air that can be forcefully inhaled following a normal inspiration
The total volume of the thoracic cavity
The additional amount of air that can be forcefully inhaled following a normal inspiration
The inspiratory reserve volume can be thought of as the amount of air that can be brought into the lungs consciously after an unconscious inhalation. This value does not include the tidal volume that is brought into the body by normal breathing. The maximum volume of inhaled air from rest is equal to half the tidal volume plus the inspiratory reserve volume.
Total lung capacity is the sum of the tidal volume (normal breathing), inspiratory reserve volume (additional volume from forced inhalation), expiratory reserve volume (additional volume from forced exhalation), and residual volume (air that cannot be forcefully moved from the lungs).
Depending on physical ability and gender, the inspiratory reserve volume is between 1900 and 3000 milliliters of air. Women typically have a lower inspiratory reserve volume compared to men.
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