#304 Pulmonary Physiology Masterclass: V/Q Mismatch, Shunting, and Key Comparisons

WhiteBoard Medicine - Emergency And Critical Care · Aug 10, 2026 · 42m

Pulmonary physiology is essential for understanding hypoxemia, respiratory failure, oxygenation, V/Q mismatch, and shunt physiology. In this episode, we review ventilation-perfusion relationships, V/Q mismatch, pulmonary shunting, and the key differences between these mechanisms of impaired oxygenation. Topics covered include: • Ventilation and perfusion basics • Normal V/Q relationships in the lung • What V/Q mismatch means • Low V/Q physiology • High V/Q physiology • What pulmonary shunt means • Right-to-left shunt physiology • Intrapulmonary and intracardiac shunts • How V/Q mismatch…