So I am reviewing the neural control of breathing and a lot of the disordered breathing rhythms mention changes in expiratory or inspiratory length but I am not even sure what the normal inspiratory or expiratory lengths are! I took a look at my copy of Bates and it doesn't say what the norm is, just that durations change for various conditions. I took at look at my kaplan resp. phys. notes and it says expiration is normally a lot longer than inspiration. I did a search online and through several books and noticed it only mentioned in passing with regarding to mechanical ventilation. One book said it's normally 1:1 and another said it's about 1:2 or 1:3. On top of that, I remember that for normal vesicular breath sounds, inspiration is longer than expiration! Anyway, anyone have a better idea from a reliable source? This is bugging me...
Normal inspiratory to expiratory ratio?
- Thread starter CBG23
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Just breath 1:1 and you'll feel that's not natural, at least not in the resting state. 1:2 to 1:3 is the correct ratio.
but realize when you auscultate, you should hear the expiratory phase less than the inspiratory phase. so you won't hear that correct ratio, you'll see it.
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If you're REALLY interested in physical exam stuff, Bate's is a good place to start. Upgrade to Sapira's Art and Science of Bedside Diagnosis for a more in depth explanation. Its WAY more than most medical students ever care to learn, and some of the stuff is just so insensitive that it might as well not be done, but it gives great descriptions and explanations of physical diagnosis findings, both normal and abnormal.
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1:2 dude. Next time you go to theatre, check what the vent controls are.
It's all to do with the degree of lung compliance.
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