Why Is the Total Mechanical Work of Breathing Difficult to Assess

question 8

Multiple Choice

Why is the total mechanical work of breathing difficult to assess during spontaneous breathing?

• A) Most volunteer subjects cannot understand the procedure used.
• B) Respiratory muscle activity contributes to inflation resistance.
• C) The respiratory muscles (diaphragm, etc.) must be paralyzed.
• D) The subjects used to make the measurements must be unconscious.

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Definitions:

Brainstem

The lower extension of the brain where it connects to the spinal cord, involved in regulating vital functions such as heart rate, breathing, and sleep cycles.

Spinal Cord

The major bundle of nerves running down the spine, connecting the brain to the rest of the body, responsible for transmitting sensory and motor information.

Deafferentation

Loss of incoming sensory input, usually due to damage to sensory fibers; also, loss of any afferent input to a structure.