Question

Tidal volume = 500 mls Vital capacity = 5500 mls Respiratory rate = 12 breaths/minute Dead air space = 100 mls Alveolar ventilation = __________.

a) 4800 mls/min
b) 5000 mls/min
c) 4000 mls/min
d) 6000 mls/min

Answer 1

Alveolar ventilation is calculated by subtracting dead air space from the tidal volume and then multiplying by the respiratory rate. Using the given data, the alveolar ventilation is (500 ml - 100 ml) x 12 breaths/minute, which equals 4800 ml/min.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate alveolar ventilation, which is how much air moves into and out of the alveoli per minute, we need to use the provided student's data as follows:

• Tidal volume (TV) = 500 ml
• Dead air space (anatomical dead space) = 100 ml
• Respiratory rate (RR) = 12 breaths/minute

The formula for alveolar ventilation is: (TV - Dead air space) x RR. We subtract the dead air space from the tidal volume because dead air space is the volume of air that does not participate in gas exchange.

Alveolar ventilation = (500 ml - 100 ml) x 12 breaths/minute = 400 ml x 12 = 4800 ml/min.

Therefore, the alveolar ventilation is 4800 mls/min, which corresponds to option (a).