The response of the breathing system

Question 1

tidal volume (VT)

Answer 1

the volume of air that enters and leaves the lungs at each natural resting breath

Question 2

inspiratory reserve volume (IRV)

Answer 2

the volume of air that you can take in above the normal inspired tidal volume

Question 3

expiratory reserve volume (ERV)

Answer 3

the volume of air that you can force out above the normal expired tidal volume

Question 4

vital capacity (VC)

Answer 4

the total of the tidal volume and inspiratory and expiratory reserves

Question 5

residual volume (RV)

Answer 5

the volume of air left in the lungs after the strongest possible expiration

Question 6

total lung capacity (TLC)

Answer 6

the sum of the vital capacity and the residual volume

Question 7

inspiratory capacity (IC)

Answer 7

the volume that can be inspired from the end of a normal expiration; IC = VT + IRV

Question 8

ventilation rate

Answer 8

a measure of the volume of air breather per minute, calculated by multiplying tidal volume by breathing frequency

Question 9

ventilation centre

Answer 9

centre in the medulla oblongata of the brain that receives information from a number of different receptors and controls changes to the rate at which you breathe

Question 10

inspiratory centre

Answer 10

main area of the ventilation centre involved in the control of breathing in; breathing out is usually passive

Question 11

expiratory centre

Answer 11

region of the ventilation centre involved in voluntary exhalation (breathing out)