We all know we can consciously alter the volume of our lungs, breathing in or breathing out more than normal: what is frequently not realized is that we cannot totally empty our lungs.Īt the end of a normal quiet expiration average intrapleural pressure ( P PL) is approximately −0.5 kPa (below atmospheric pressure) and lung volume (V L) 3 L. Insufficient (hypoventilation) or excess (hyperventilation) alveolar ventilation occurs in many lung pathologies. The part of the air ventilating our lungs which is of paramount functional importance is that which forms alveolar ventilation, that is which ventilates those parts of the lung where gas exchange with the blood takes place. Recoil pressure has a negative sign because it is measured relative to intrapleural pressure. Airflow would be measured using a pneumotachograph and integrated to give tidal volume. 41, 42) and illustrated in Figure 5.1.įig. In respiratory medicine ventilation is the rate of flow of air into or out of the lungs, and results from the expanding and contracting of the lungs by the changes in intrapleural pressure described in Chapter 4 (pp. We therefore measure the flow in one direction only – conventionally the volume breathed out per minute ( ) – to give us minute ventilation.

This is not a very helpful way of expressing ventilation if we want to express changes in breathing, as the result of exercise or disease, for example. The volume breathed out is approximately equal to the volume breathed in ( tidal volume, V T), therefore the net flow over a complete cycle is zero. The symbol for ventilation,, has a dot over the V to show it is a rate.

The volume of air passing into the lungs per minute in this case ( minute ventilation, ) is:

Normal breathing involves about 12 breaths per minute, each of about 0.5 L. Ventilation of a room or building can be measured as flow of air, in litres per minute through that room. We now begin to explore the detail of this far from uniform phenomenon. So far we have talked about breathing as if it is simply a uniform repeated action of inhalation followed by exhalation.

Why is alveolar dead space important