1. Asthma Attack! Slides to Accompany the Case Study: by
NATIONAL CENTER FOR CASE STUDY TEACHING IN SCIENCE
Slides to Accompany the Case Study:
Asthma Attack! by
Hollie L. Leavitt
Department of Biology
College of Western Idaho, Nampa, ID

2. Air Flow
The following equation can be used to calculate air
flow (F) through the respiratory passageways:
F = ΔP / R
Where:
ΔP = The difference between atmospheric and intrapulmonary pressure
R = Resistance to air flow

3. Factors That Affect Resistance
Normal
bronchiole
Asthmatic
Bruce Blaus, Wikimedia Commons
The following factors increase resistance, decreasing air flow to and from the lungs:
Constriction of airways
Mucus accumulation
This image was taken from Wikimedia and modified to add descriptions of the bronchioles. Image is available at: