Final answer:
Yes, breathing patterns do affect ventilation and air distribution due to factors such as lung compliance and airway resistance. Conditions like fibrosis and asthma can severely impact air distribution, and the respiratory system adjusts during various activities, like exercise, to maintain proper function.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ventilation and air distribution within the lungs do change with breathing patterns. This occurs due to the dynamic nature of factors governing breathing, such as lung compliance and airway resistance. Conditions like fibrosis decrease lung compliance, leading to stiffer airways which can collapse during exhalation, trapping air in the lungs. Conversely, increased resistance as seen in asthma or emphysema causes obstruction, also trapping air in the lungs.
Physically, breathing involves the contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm and thoracic muscles. While the lungs are passive, the pleural fluid allows them to follow the movements of the thoracic wall during inspiration and expiration.
At rest, the brain regulates a rhythmic breathing cycle to maintain homeostasis of blood gases and pH, adjusting the respiratory rate and volume of the breath. For instance, with low ventilation, the respiratory rate may decrease but the volume of air per breath can increase; whereas with high ventilation, both the respiratory rate and air volume per breath typically increase.
The control and modifications in respiratory functions are complex, responding to the body's demands. For example, during exercise, hyperpnea, an increase in breathing rate and depth, is initiated almost immediately to meet the increased oxygen demand, rather than in reaction to a deficit in tissue oxygen levels.