Ventrol (Ventilatory Control )

Description: Ventrol is a computer simulation and tutorial program incorporating the major factors involved in respiratory control. The initial portion of the program provides a tutorial of the basic anatomical and physiological principles of respiratory control. The simulation portion allows the user to alter various respiratory stimuli and observe the effect on respiratory rate and depth. The program plots the simulated tidal volume against time and prints out the current arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, arterial pH, respiratory frequency and the tidal volume. The sensitivity of the "respiratory" response is randomly altered so that the minute ventilation varies each time the program runs, similar to actual patient data. The program demonstrates the response to variations in the fraction of inspired oxygen and carbon dioxide, metabolic acidosis, several neurological lesions, variations in metabolic rate, and obstructive and restrictive lung disease. The last portion of the program generates respiratory patterns to different stimuli which the user must identify in order to test his/her knowledge of the principles of respiratory control. The program has been used for several years as a "dry laboratory" for medical or dental physiology courses and is appropriate for nursing and allied health curricula.

Comments & References: Menu-driven. Primarily designed as a review and reinforcement technique for a systemic, organ physiology course. Text is kept to a minimum and the emphasis is placed on graphics and simulations to provide for active participation by the user(s). Described in Advances in Physiological Education 6: S25, 1991. See record numbers 141, 694, 696, 702, 721, 739, 803 and 4635 for the other 8 records in the Comp-Edu-Grams series. This item may be borrowed for up to 6 weeks through the Alternative Loan System of the International Network for Humane Education (InterNICHE), free of charge, but return postage must be paid by the person who has borrowed the product. Please note that there are practical limitations on where some items can be sent. Please contact loansystem@interniche.org and see http://www.interniche.org for more information.

Computer type: IBM

Price: Single user per disc: US$50.00; Site license provides unlimited local use of the program at a cost of US$200.00 per disc. Loan Program: Free of charge