Circulatory System Question

Q: Is it possible to stay awake during cardiac surgery?

A: Yes, it is according to http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1250507/Eyes-Wide-Open-Patient-open-heart-surgery-awake.html which was posted on February 12th 2010. It says rather then putting the patient to sleep with an anesthesia they gave him an epidural to the neck, numbing his whole body. It is quoted that "Lead surgeon Dr Vivek Jawali, said they had performed more than 600 operations this way since 1999."

Interesting Question About The Lungs

Q: Are the left lung and right lung the same?

A: No, the lung on the left side of your body is divided into two lobes while the lung on your right side is divided into three. The left lung is also slightly smaller, allowing room for your heart.

Respiratory: Vital Capacity

1. My vital capacity is one of the lowest of the boys in the class. I think it is like this because I am the smallest boy in the class giving me a smaller lung capacity.

2. A usual breath can range from 1/2 a litre in a quiet breath to 6 litres for a tall singing base baritone. Our breaths depend on height, weight, posture, parents genes, cellular condition, chemistry, emotions, breathing skill level, thinking processes and more.

3. Regular exhalation is when all the muscles relax to allow air to leave the lungs, while forceful exhalation is when the muscles are relaxing, but we are also using other muscles in our body to make the thoracic cavity smaller. People cannot train the bronchi or alveoli to obtain more air, but can train the muscles that help expand and compress the thoracic cavity to achieve a greater vital capacity.