[‚fiz·ē·ə′läj·ə·kəl ′ded ‚spās] (anatomy) dead space
physiological dead space
physiological dead space
In the respiratory tract, any nonfunctional alveoli that do not receive air that participates in gas exchange. Possible causes include emphysema, pneumothorax, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, and constriction of bronchioles. See: anatomical dead spaceSee also: spaceThesaurusSeespace