Final answer:
During inhalation/inspiration, the total alveolar volume actually increases, not decreases, to allow air to enter the lungs for gas exchange. This increase in volume is due to the expansion of the thoracic cavity by the contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that total alveolar volume decreases during inhalation/inspiration is false. Inhalation is the process of taking air into the lungs and is achieved by the expansion of the thoracic cavity, which is facilitated by the contraction of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles. This expansion creates a negative pressure inside the chest, leading to an increase in alveolar volume as air is drawn into the alveoli for gas exchange.
During inhalation, the pulmonary ventilation increases, which may be accompanied by an increase in respiratory rate and/or volume of air per breath, depending on the body's oxygen demand. However, the alveolar volume definitely increases to accommodate the incoming air. The respiratory rate can vary, but during normal breathing, the volume of air per breath remains relatively constant to maintain effective gas exchange in the alveoli.
Residual volume is what prevents the alveoli from collapsing by maintaining a certain amount of air in the lungs at all times. It is not affected by the process of inhalation or exhalation, as it constitutes the volume of air that remains in the lungs even after a forceful exhalation.