Syllabus · Historical · V4 (2023) · Respiratory System
F6 · Ventilation-Perfusion Relationships
F6.ii · Ventilation-Perfusion Relationships
Describe West's zones of the lung and explain the mechanisms responsible for them.
Written examination
SAQ history
West Zones
1 exam appearance
Describe the ventilation / perfusion (V/Q) relationships in the upright lung according to West’s zones (40%). Explain the physiological mechanisms responsible for these relationships (60%).
47%
Oral examination
VIVA history
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2024B · Day 1 · VIVA 1
This VIVA will examine respiratory physiology. The following diagram represents the West zones of the upright healthy lung. Describe this model of pulmonary blood flow distribution.
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2016A · Day 2 · VIVA 1
This viva tested knowledge of cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology, the Frank Starling mechanism, venous return and stroke volume. It went on to discuss cardiac output measurement and the pharmacology of milrinone, West’s zones of the lung and pulmonary vascular resistance.
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2009A · VIVA 7
This information is from a patient with a pulmonary embolism FIO2 0.5 PaO2 100mmHg PaCO2 20mmHg Calculate the A-a gradient.
Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.