Final answer:
The correct answer is c. Pressure-regulated volume control, a ventilation mode that adjusts pressure to achieve a set tidal volume, maintaining consistent lung volumes and following Boyle's law where gas pressure and volume are inversely proportional.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dual mode that features a pressure-controlled breath pattern with volume as a conditional variable is c. Pressure-regulated volume control. This mode of ventilation combines the characteristics of both pressure control and volume control. In pressure-regulated volume control, a target tidal volume is set, and the ventilator adjusts the pressure to achieve this volume, hence ensuring a consistent tidal volume while protecting the lungs from high pressure.
It is important to note that Boyle's law states that the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume. This means as the volume of the thoracic cavity changes during the breathing process, the pressure inside the lungs will change correspondingly, affecting the airflow. This principle is an underlying concept in many ventilation strategies, including pressure-regulated volume control.
The control of ventilation is managed by a complex system involving the brain signaling the respiratory muscles to adjust the rate and depth of breathing. This ensures an adequate exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in response to the body's needs.