Question

When assessing patients, nurses chart the rate, depth and rhythm

of respirations. Fill in the blanks to the following paragraph:
Ventilatory rate: the average number of
breathes per minute should be b

Answer 1

The ventilatory rate for an adult is typically 12-15 breaths per minute, which is essential for maintaining proper alveolar ventilation. In children, this rate is higher and decreases with age until it reaches the adult range by adolescence. The respiratory center in the brain controls this rate.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ventilatory rate, also known as the respiratory rate, is the average number of breaths per minute. For an adult, this rate should be typically between 12-15 breaths per minute. The respiratory rate is crucial for maintaining alveolar ventilation, which is how much air moves into and out of the alveoli, preventing carbon dioxide buildup.

In children, the respiratory rate varies with age. A child under 1 year of age normally breathes between 30 and 60 times per minute, and by about 10 years old, the rate decreases to 18 to 30 breaths per minute. By adolescence, it stabilizes to an adult range, which is 12 to 18 breaths per minute.

The respiratory rate is regulated by the respiratory center in the medulla oblongata, which responds to changes in carbon dioxide, oxygen, and pH levels in the blood.