Question

Ms. Vader has a tidal volume of 0.45L. She has a respiratory rate of 12bpm. What is her minute volume? She is 54 years old and is 5’5”. What is her minute alveolar ventilation? What is her alveolar tidal volume?

Answer 1

Her minute volume would be: 0.45L (tidal volume) * 12bpm (respiratory rate) = 5.4L.

Now, to calculate the alveolar ventilation, we need to subtract the dead space volume (the volume of air that is inhaled that does not take part in the gas exchange because it remains in the conducting airways) from the tidal volume, and then multiply by the respiratory rate. The average dead space volume for an adult human is about 150 mL or 0.15L.

However, the dead space volume can vary depending on a person's age, sex, and body size. Since we don't have the specific dead space volume for Ms. Vader, we'll use the average value.

So, her alveolar tidal volume would be: 0.45L (tidal volume) - 0.15L (dead space) = 0.3L.

And her minute alveolar ventilation would be: 0.3L (alveolar tidal volume) * 12bpm (respiratory rate) = 3.6L.