Question

When a patient's respirations are too rapid and too shallow:

A) the majority of inhaled air lingers in areas of physiologic dead space.
B) inhaled air may only reach the anatomic dead space before being exhaled.
C) the increase in tidal volume will compensate for a rapid respiratory rate.
D) minute volume increases because a larger amount of air reaches the lungs.

Answer 1

When respirations are too rapid and too shallow, inhaled air may only reach the anatomic dead space before being exhaled. The increase in respiratory rate does not compensate for the decreased tidal volume.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient's respirations are too rapid and too shallow, the volume of air per breath is decreased. This means that inhaled air may only reach the anatomic dead space before being exhaled. The increase in respiratory rate does not compensate for the decreased tidal volume, instead, minute volume decreases.