Q. A 22- year old man was in a motorcycle accident with resultant neck injuries that led to partial paralysis of the upper and lower limbs. Almost immediately his chest felt heavy and he became dyspneic. His pulmonary values:
Vital capacity (supine) = 650 ml
Minute ventilation (supine) = 6 L/min
Respiratory rate (supine) = 30 b/min
PaO2 = 61 mmHg
PaCO2 = 47 mmHg
1. What are the values for the tidal volume (TV) and the alveolar ventilation (AV) for this individual? (Assume a normal value for dead space) Compare with normal.
a. tidal volume=
b. alveolar ventilation=
2. What is contributing to decreased alveolar ventilation?
3. Which nerves and muscles are involved in the problem?
4. How is the residual volume affected? What is causing the dyspnea in this individual?
6. Describe the reflexes involving causing the tachypnea in this individual.