Table 9 Differences in respiratory physiology between children and adults
Cause | Physiological or anatomical basis |
|---|---|
Metabolism ↑ | O2 consumption ↑ |
Risk of apnea ↓ | Immaturity of control breathing |
Airway resistance ↑ | |
Upper airway resistance ↑ | Nose breathing |
Large tongue | |
Airway size ↓ | |
Collapsibility ↑ | |
Pharyngeal muscle tone ↓ | |
Compliance of upper airway structure ↑ | |
Lower airway resistance ↑ | Airway size ↓ |
Collapsibility ↑ | |
Airway wall compliance ↑ | |
Elastic recoil ↓ | |
Lung volume ↓ | Numbers of alveoli ↓ |
Lack of collateral ventilation | |
Efficiency of respiratory muscles ↓ | Efficiency of diaphragm ↓ |
Rib cage compliance ↑ | |
Horizontal insertion at the rib cage | |
Efficiency of intercostal muscles ↓ | |
Horizontal ribs | |
Endurance of respiratory muscles ↓ | Respiratory rate ↑ |
Fatigue-resistant type I muscle fibres ↓ | |