High School

What is alveolar ventilation?

Why does alveolar ventilation not match minute ventilation?

Answer :

Final answer:

Alveolar ventilation is the airflow to the part of the lungs involved in gas exchange. It does not match minute ventilation, the total inhaled air, because some air stays in the dead space of the respiratory tract.

Explanation:

Alveolar ventilation refers to the volume of fresh air that reaches the alveoli (the tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs) and participates in gas exchange with the blood each minute. The amount of air that enters the alveoli for gas exchange is less than the total air inhaled, referred to as minute ventilation, because some of the inhaled air remains in the anatomical dead space (the parts of the respiratory tract where gas exchange does not occur).

This difference between alveolar ventilation and minute ventilation arises due to the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the respiratory system. The volume of the dead space is usually around 150 mL in a healthy adult, and that much air of each breath does not reach the alveoli for gas exchange.

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