Investigating Ventilation

Question 1

What is tidal volume?

Answer 1

The volume of air breathed in or out of our lungs per breathe (dm3).

Question 2

What is the breathing rate?

Answer 2

How many breathes that are usually taken in a minute.

Question 3

What is ventilation rate?

Answer 3

The rate at which someone breathes are in or out usually in minute.

Question 4

How do you calculate ventilation rate?

Answer 4

Ventilation rate = tidal volume x breathing rate

Question 5

How can a spirometer (SPMTR) be used to measure tidal volume and breathing rate?

Answer 5

A SPMTR has an oxygen-filled chamber with a movable lid.
Person breathes through tube connected to oxygen chamber. Chamber moves up when breathes out and down when in.
Movements of lid recorded by pen at end of lid of chamber - this writes on rotating drum, creating spriometer trace. Soda lime is in tube person breathes through to absorb CO2.

Question 6

What must you do before you use a spirometer?

Answer 6

Calibrate it.

Question 7

How can a spirometer be used to investigate the effects of exercise?

Answer 7

(1) Person is connected to spirometer using a mask so continuous readings can be recorded.
(2) Readings are recorded for 1 min at rest.
(3) Person exercises (e.g. running on tredmill).
(4) Person stops exercising and reading are continued for one minute at rest.