Video - Ventilation

Ventilation refers to the process of moving air in and out of the lungs. Alveolar ventilation refers to the amount of air that reaches the alveoli in the lungs for gas exchange. This determines the amount of oxygen that is available for the body to use, and the amount of carbon dioxide that is eliminated from the body.

Alveolar ventilation is determined by the tidal volume and the amount of dead space in the respiratory system. The formula for alveolar ventilation is (tidal volume - physiological dead space) x respiratory rate. Tidal volume is the amount of air that enters or leaves the lungs during a single normal breath; and physiological dead space refers to the portion of the respiratory system where air exchange does not occur, resulting in wasted ventilation.