why do upper regions of an upright lung have a larger ventilation-perfusion ratio and why lower...

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why do upper regions of an upright lung have a largerventilation-perfusion ratio and why lower regions of an uprightlung have a smaller ventilation-perfusion ratio

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In respiratory physiology the ventilationperfusion ratio VQ ratio or VQ ratio is a ratio used to assess the efficiency and adequacy of the matching of two variables V or V ventilation the air that reaches the alveoli Q or Q perfusion the blood that reaches the alveoli via the capillaries The VQ ratio can therefore be defined as the ratio of the amount of air reaching the alveoli per minute to the amount of blood reaching the alveoli per minutea ratio of volumetric flow rates These two variables V Q constitute the main determinants of the blood oxygen O2 and carbon dioxide CO2 concentration The VQ ratio can be measured with a ventilationperfusion scan A VQ mismatch can cause a type 1 respiratory failure Physiology See Answer

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