Ventilation Rate:
There are different ways to express the rate a person is breathing. In respiratory physiology, these include Minute Ventilation and Alveolar Ventilation.
Minute Ventilation:
Minute ventilation is equal to the Tidal Volume times the Breaths per minute.
MV = Tidal Volume x Breaths / Minute
Alveolar Ventilation:
Alveolar Ventilation is equal to Tidal Volume minus Dead Space times the breaths per minute.
AV = (Tidal Volume – Dead Space) x Breaths / Minute
Dead Space:
To get the Dead Space (for using in the alveolar ventilation equation), you can use the following formula:
Dead Space = Tidal Volume x (PCO2 arterial – PCO2 expired air) / PCO2 arterial