Final answer:
The term matching the definition "a respiratory rate that is too fast; greater than 24 breaths per minute" is tachypnea. This condition indicates a higher-than-normal respiratory rate, which can occur due to various health conditions and is regulated by the brain's respiratory center.
Step-by-step explanation:
The definition provided, "a respiratory rate that is too fast; greater than 24 breaths per minute," matches the term tachypnea. Tachypnea is a medical term used to describe a condition where the respiratory rate is abnormally high. This condition can occur in response to a variety of situations such as exercise, fever, respiratory diseases, or other medical conditions.
The respiratory rate is an important indicator of health, as it can signal illness or disease. It's controlled by the respiratory center within the medulla oblongata of the brain, which responds to changes in carbon dioxide, oxygen, and pH levels in the blood. When the body requires more oxygen, or if there's a buildup of carbon dioxide, the respiratory rate can increase, and so can the depth of breathing, which is known as hyperpnea.
If alveolar ventilation is too low or too high, the respiratory rate will adjust accordingly. Decreased ventilation leads to an increased respiratory rate and decreased volume of air per breath, helping to expel carbon dioxide and normalize blood gas levels. On the other hand, if ventilation is too high for the body's needs, respiratory rate tends to increase, and the volume per breath decreases to reduce excess oxygen and carbon dioxide expulsion.