Ventilation (physiology)

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In respiratory physiology, ventilation (or ventilation rate) is the rate at which gas enters or leaves the lung. It is categorised under the following definitions:

Measurement	Equation	Description
Minute ventilation	= tidal volume * respiratory rate	the total volume of gas entering the lungs per minute.
Alveolar ventilation	= (tidal volume - dead space) * respiratory rate	the volume of gas per unit time that reaches the alveoli, the respiratory portions of the lungs where gas exchange occurs.
Dead space ventilation	= dead space * respiratory rate	is the volume of gas per unit time that does not reach these respiratory portions, but instead remains in the airways (trachea, bronchi, etc.).

See also

Gas exchange

References

External links

RT Corner (Educational Site for RT's and Nurses) at rtcorner.net

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Last updated on Friday February 08, 2008 at 10:58:55 PST (GMT -0800)
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