On average, how many times per minute does air exchange occur in adults?

The average air exchange rate in adults is typically between 12 to 20 times per minute. This rate, known as the respiratory rate, can vary based on several factors including activity level, health status, and age. At rest, most adults breathe within this range, which allows for adequate oxygen intake and carbon dioxide removal to meet metabolic demands.

Understanding this range is important in aerospace physiology, as it highlights how breathing patterns may change in different environments, such as during flight or in high-altitude situations where oxygen levels are lower. Monitoring respiratory rates can help in assessing an individual’s physiological response to stressors encountered in these environments.

Other ranges provided in the options fall outside of what is considered normal for resting adults, indicating either a state of high respiratory demand or other health issues that could alter normal breathing patterns.