Some aspects of pulmonary ventilation during exercise: submitted for the Ellis Prize in Physiology, 1956

1. Some theoretical aspects of alveolar ventilation are discussed, and an hypothesis presented which ascribes to a common cause the increase in physiological dead space resulting from exercise, voluntary hyperventilation and abnormal ventilation/perfusion relationships.2. A method is described by means of which ventilatory efficiency may be assessed during exercise. Its limitations are enumerated and discussed.3. Ventilatory efficiency has been studied during exercise in healthy University students and old men. The results are presented and appraised.4. Possible clinical applications are briefly mentioned