display | more...
Space in the lungs used for air transfer where no gas exchange with the blood occurs.

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs in the lungs in polyp shaped cells known as alveoli. To get the air to these parts of the lungs, it must travel through the trachea and bronchi and nonrespiratory bronchioles. Since no gas exchange occurs in these passages, they are clinically referred to as anatomical dead space.

See also: physiological dead space