Physiology HUMAN RESPIRATION USING SPIROMETRY

INTRODUCTION:
A Spirometer is an instrument used to measure different volumes of air involved in breathing.
The Phipps and Bird Wet Spirometer is based on the simple mechanical principle that air,
exhaled from the lungs, will cause displacement of a closed chamber which is partially
submerged in water. Basically, the Spirometer consists of two vessels: a larger vessel
containing water and having a breathing hose attached to it; and a smaller vessel inverted and
suspended in the water. A counterweight and indicator are attached to the inverted chamber.
Air blown into the inverted chamber will cause it to rise, thus moving an indicator arrow along
the horizontal scale, which is calibrated in liters, to give lung volume measurements. Today we
will be concerned with the act of breathing (or ventilation) and it’s control. Using Spirometry, we
can measure the volume of inspired and expired gas and determine a variety of lung volume
measurements.

The total lung capacity is divided into various volumes and capacities according to the
ventilatory process. For example, the total capacity of the lungs to hold air is divided into four
volumes defined as follows:

Tidal Volume (TV): volume of air inspired or expired during normal quiet breathing. Average
values for a 72 kg individual is 500 ml or .5 L

Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV): volume of air forcefully inspired above and beyond that
taken at the end of a normal quiet inspiration. Avg. 3000mL or 3.0 L

Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV): The amount of air that can be forcefully exhaled following
a normal quiet expiration. Avg. 1,100mL or 1.1 L

Residual Volume (RV): The amount of air that remains trapped in the lungs after a maximal
expiratory effort. Avg. 1,200mL or 1.2 L

The sum of all the above values gives us our total lung capacity.

Total Lung Capacity (TLC): Maximal amount of air contained the lungs can hold. This is the
sum of the four volumes listed above. TV + IRV + ERV + RV = Avg. 5,800mL or 5.8 L

Vital Capacity (VC): The volume of air that can be exhaled after a maximal inspiration. IRV +
TV + ERV= Avg. 4,600mL or 4.6 L

Functional Residual Capacity (FRV): The amount of air remaining in the lungs after a normal
expiration. RV + ERV= Avg. 2,300mL or 2.3 L

Inspiratory Capacity (IC): The maximal amount of air that can be inspired after a normal
expiration. IRV + TV= Avg. 3,500mL or 3.5 L.
MATERIALS:
Wet Spirometer and Mouthpieces

PROCEDURE:
1. Using your own paper, write a title, purpose and hypothesis for this activity. Include a data table like
the one shown on the follow page. Use a wet spirometer to measure and calculate the respiratory volumes
and capacities listed below for each experiment.
2. Record results in data table.
3. Repeat twice and calculate the average.
.
Experiment 1: Measuring TIDAL VOLUME
Measure the amount of air exhaled or inhaled during normal, quiet breathing (TV) The student
should sit by the spirometer, breathing quietly and normally for about a minute.
After inhaling a normal breath, places the mouthpiece between the lips (get a good "seal") and
exhale in a normal, unforced way, into the spirometer mouthpiece. The volume should be read
and recorded from the horizontal scale.

Experiment 2: Measuring EXPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME

Measure the amount of air that can be forcibly breathed out after normal expiration (ERV). The
student stands, breathing normally for a minute or so, then, after a normal exhalation puts the
mouthpiece between the lips, and forcibly exhales all the additional air possible.

Experiment 3: Measuring INSPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME

Measure the amount of air that can be inhaled following normal TV inhalation (IRV) Standing,
the student breathes normally for a minute; then breathes as deeply as possible. With the
mouthpiece inserted, the student then exhales normally, without forcing the air out. The IRV
reading is obtained by subtracting the student's TV from the reading recorded on the spirometer.

Experiment 4: Measuring VITAL CAPACITY

Measure the maximum amount of air which can be forcibly exhaled immediately following a
maximal inhalation (VC) (VC = TV + IRV + ERV) . Standing, the student slowly and deeply
breathes in and out for awhile, then breathes in as deeply as possible, places the spirometer
mouthpiece in position, and breathes out as forcibly as possible.
Individual Data:

Volume I Volume II Volume III Average

Tidal Volume (TV)

Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)

Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV)

Vital Capacity (VC)

Residual Volume (RV) 1.2 L male 1.2 L male 1.2 L male 1.2 L male
.9 L female .9 L female .9 L female .9 L female

Functional Residual Capacity

(FRC)

Inspiratory Capacity (IC)

Total Lung Capacity (TLC)

Class Data:
Volume Measurement (L) Mean Median Mode Range
Tidal Volume (TV)

Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)

Vital Capacity( VC)

Inspiratory Capacity (IC)

Total Lung Capacity (TLC)

ANALYSIS QUESTIONS:

1. Make a graph similar to the one of the front of this lab handout to show your results in graph
format.

2. Using your data, calculate the Average Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) based on
your averages in the table. This is the amount of air remaining in the lungs after normal
exhalation, FRC = ERV + RV. Assume RV is about 1L or 1000mL.

3. Using your data, calculate the Inspiratory Capacity (IC) based on your averages in the
table. The amount of air which can be inhaled after normal expiration, IC = TV + IRV.

4. Using your data, calculate the Total Lung Capacity (TLC) based on your averages in the
table. This is the amount of air contained in the lungs after a maximal inhalation, TLC = TV +
IRV + ERV + RV.

5. How did your respiratory volumes and capacities compare to the class average (mean) for each?

6. What are possible explanations for your deviation from the normal averages if they exist?

7. What are some factors that could negatively affect respiratory volumes and capacities?

8. What are some factors that could positively affect respiratory volumes and capacities?

9. What are some of the consequences of unhealthy behavior related to respiratory functions?