The word "residual air" refers to the air that remains in the lungs after a person exhales. The spelling of this word is somewhat tricky, as it contains a few sounds that may not be immediately apparent based on the spelling alone. In phonetic transcription, "residual air" would be written as /ɹɪˈzɪdʒuəl ɛr/. The first syllable contains the "ih" sound as in "sit," the second syllable has the "zh" sound as in "measure," and the final syllable contains the "air" sound as in "chair."
Residual air refers to the amount of air that remains in the lungs after a complete exhalation. It represents the volume of air that is unable to be expelled from the respiratory system even after maximal expiration.
During normal breathing, the lungs never completely empty of air. At the end of each expiration, a certain amount of air remains within the lungs, occupying the microscopic air sacs called alveoli. This air is known as residual air, and it is essential for the maintenance of lung function.
The presence of residual air serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it ensures that the lungs remain partially inflated, preventing the collapse of the alveoli and maintaining the structural integrity of the respiratory system. Additionally, residual air provides a continuous flow of oxygen into the bloodstream, even between breaths. This constant supply of oxygen is crucial for the sustenance of bodily functions, especially when breathing is temporarily interrupted, such as during speech or swallowing.
Residual air also plays a significant role in gas exchange within the alveoli. Oxygen diffuses from the residual air into the bloodstream while carbon dioxide, a waste product, diffuses from the bloodstream into the alveoli to be expelled during exhalation.
Overall, residual air is a vital component of the respiratory system, ensuring the functionality and continuous oxygenation of the body even during periods of rest or reduced ventilation.
That which fills the pulmonary vesicles and cannot be expelled by forced expiration.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "residual" refers to something that remains or persists after the main or most important part has gone or been removed. The word "air" refers to the invisible gas mixture that surrounds the Earth and is essential for sustaining life.
The etymology of "residual" can be traced back to the Latin word "residuus", which means "remaining" or "left over". This Latin term is derived from the verb "residere", which translates to "to remain behind" or "to stay back".
As for the term "air", it comes from the Old English word "ær", which is closely related to the Old High German word "ār" and the Old Norse word "lǫgr". All these words originally referred to air or the atmospheric conditions.