Question: what is the difference between pulmonary and alveolar ventilation?
Answer: Gas exchange occurs in the lungs between alveolar air and blood of the pulmonary capillaries. For effective gas exchange to occur, alveoli must be ventilated and perfused. Ventilation (V) refers to the flow of air into and out of the alveoli, while perfusion (Q) refers to the flow of blood to alveolar capillaries.