If a person's tidal volume decreases, but his or her respiratory rate remains unchanged:

If a person's tidal volume decreases, but his or her respiratory rate remains unchanged:

• A. minute volume will decrease.
• B. minute volume will remain unchanged.
• C. minute volume will increase.
• D. excess carbon dioxide will be eliminated.

Answer: (A)

When a person's tidal volume decreases and their respiratory rate stays the same, the overall amount of air exchanged in one minute, known as minute volume, is directly affected. Minute volume is calculated by multiplying tidal volume (the amount of air inhaled or exhaled per breath) by the respiratory rate (number of breaths taken per minute). If the tidal volume decreases while the respiratory rate remains unchanged, the result is a lower total volume of air exchanged each minute. For instance, if someone normally breathes in a certain amount of air per breath and that amount decreases while still breathing the same number of times each minute, the total air moved in and out will naturally be less. This clearly illustrates that minute volume will decrease as a direct outcome of the reduced tidal volume. In this context, it's crucial to understand that a decrease in tidal volume, without a corresponding increase in respiratory rate, will lead to a decline in minute volume.

When a person's tidal volume decreases and their respiratory rate stays the same, the overall amount of air exchanged in one minute, known as minute volume, is directly affected. Minute volume is calculated by multiplying tidal volume (the amount of air inhaled or exhaled per breath) by the respiratory rate (number of breaths taken per minute).

If the tidal volume decreases while the respiratory rate remains unchanged, the result is a lower total volume of air exchanged each minute. For instance, if someone normally breathes in a certain amount of air per breath and that amount decreases while still breathing the same number of times each minute, the total air moved in and out will naturally be less. This clearly illustrates that minute volume will decrease as a direct outcome of the reduced tidal volume.

In this context, it's crucial to understand that a decrease in tidal volume, without a corresponding increase in respiratory rate, will lead to a decline in minute volume.