Respiratory Air Flow and Volume

Respiratory Air Flow and Volume

Exercise 1: Lung volumes and capacities

Using the Horizontal Compression buttons and the scroll bar, display the data you wish to include in your report.

Lung Volumes and Capacities|

Respiratory Parameters|Abbreviation|Units|Experimental Value|Predicted Value|

BREATHING RATE|||||

Respiratory Rate|RR|breaths / min|20.0||

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LUNG VOLUMES|||||

Tidal volume|VT|L|0.74||

Expired minute volume|VE (= VT x bpm)|L / min|14.74||

Inspiratory reserve volume|IRV|L|0.93||

Expiratory reserve volume|ERV|L|1.23||

Residual volume|RV (predicted)|L|1.55|1.55|

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LUNG CAPACITIES|||||

Inspiratory capacity|IC (= VT + IRV)|L|1.67||

Expiratory capacity|EC (= VT + ERV)|L|1.97||

Vital capacity|VC (= IRV + ERV + VT)|L|2.90|4.00|

Functional residual capacity|FRC (= ERV + RV)|L|2.78|3.06|

Total lung capacity|TLC (= VC + RV)|L|4.45|5.55|

The predicted values are based on the Goldman and Becklake equations for Pulmonary Function (cited from the John Hopkins Pulmonary Laboratory)

Study Questions

1. Comment on the differences between the experimental and predicted values for VC, FRC and TLC in the table above. What could cause these differences, if any?

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2. In quiet breathing, muscular effort is used mainly in inspiration, and expiration is largely passive, due to elastic recoil of the lung. Can you relate this fact to the pattern of expiratory and inspiratory flow? Hint: the normal pattern of breathing is efficient in that it requires muscular effort for only a short time.

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3. Explain why RV cannot be determined by ordinary spirometry?

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Exercise 2: Pulmonary function tests

Using the Horizontal Compression controls and the scroll bar, display the data you wish to include in your report.

Pulmonary Function Variables|

Respiratory Parameter|Abbreviation|Units|Experimental value|Predicted value|

Peak Inspiratory Flow|PIF|L / min|218||

Peak Expiratory Flow|PEF|L / min|139||

Forced Vital...