Respiration in the Human Body - Université Catholique de Louvain

How do we breathe? What is the purpose of our lungs? What is the link between oxygen and life ? These questions open a vast field of discovery to help us understand respiration. This course is for anyone who wants to understand human respiratory physiology, the operation of respiration and the lungs. Immersed in the heart of the university and hospital practice, you’ll learn from professors, health professionals, interns and medical students. Together we’ll discuss topics that are close to the world surrounding us: respiration during exercise, at high altitude, the role of air pollutants, asthma, and other important respiratory issues. During the course experts will discuss specific and practical topics such as how to comprehend oxygenation of a patient, why and when to administer oxygen, and what hyperventilation means. This course will also discuss in depth human anatomy, physical volumes and pressures of gasses, blood, oxygen, CO₂, lungs, tissues, smoking and chronic bronchitis.

What you'll learn

• Explain and describe the principles of oxygenation, ventilation, transport and consumption of oxygen and gas diffusion between air and blood.
• How to explain and describe respiration through diagrams and calculations using fundamental formulas.
• Evaluate the quantity and quality of the oxygenation of a patient.
• Distinguish normal respiratory situations from pathological ones.