Alveolar ventilation Va equals Ve minus Vd. If Ve = 8 L/min and Vd = 3 L, what is Va?

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Multiple Choice

Alveolar ventilation Va equals Ve minus Vd. If Ve = 8 L/min and Vd = 3 L, what is Va?

Alveolar ventilation is the portion of minute ventilation that actually reaches the gas-exchanging areas of the lungs. It’s found by subtracting the dead space ventilation from the total minute ventilation, because air in the dead space doesn’t participate in gas exchange. So with Ve = 8 L/min and Vd = 3 L/min, Va = 8 − 3 = 5 L/min. This means 5 liters per minute of air reaches the alveoli for gas exchange.

Alveolar ventilation is the portion of minute ventilation that actually reaches the gas-exchanging areas of the lungs. It’s found by subtracting the dead space ventilation from the total minute ventilation, because air in the dead space doesn’t participate in gas exchange.

So with Ve = 8 L/min and Vd = 3 L/min, Va = 8 − 3 = 5 L/min. This means 5 liters per minute of air reaches the alveoli for gas exchange.

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