The respiratory minute volume or the volume of new air moved

The respiratory minute volume, or the volume of new air moved into the ....... (A = alveoli; U = upper respiratory tract) per minute, averages .......litres per minute in a young adult.

a) A;3

b) A;6

c) A; 12

d) U;3

e) U;6

Solution

The respiratory minute volume is defined as the volume of fresh/new air moved inside/outside the lungs of an individual per minute. It is a representative of ability of gaseous exchange in lungs of an individual. Since gaseous exchange takes place at the alveolar bed, the respiratory minute volume directly refers to the exchange of gases per minute across the pulmonary alveolar bed. Its magnitude differs for dfferent individuals and depend upon age, sex, physical conditions of exercise/rest and medical conditions such as infections etc. For average young adult, the magnitude of respiratory minute volume is nearly 5-8 L/min.

Thus, the information suggests that appropriate answer is choice B.