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Spirometry notes

The document provides detailed information about vital capacity, including normal lung volumes and capacities in adult males, such as tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume, and total lung capacity. It discusses how vital capacity is influenced by factors like age, sex, pregnancy, and exercise, as well as the physiological significance of measuring vital capacity. Additionally, it highlights the differences in vital capacity based on posture and lists pathological conditions that may decrease it.

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4 views

Spirometry notes

The document provides detailed information about vital capacity, including normal lung volumes and capacities in adult males, such as tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume, and total lung capacity. It discusses how vital capacity is influenced by factors like age, sex, pregnancy, and exercise, as well as the physiological significance of measuring vital capacity. Additionally, it highlights the differences in vital capacity based on posture and lists pathological conditions that may decrease it.

Uploaded by

holame1143
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Vital Capacity

1. Draw a normal spirogram with all lung volumes and capacities? Give its
normal value.

LUNG VOLUMES
A. Tidal volume (TV): It is approximately 500 mL in normal adult male.
B. Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV): It is about 3000 mL (range 2000–3200 mL) in a normal
adult male.
C. Expiratory reserve volume (ERV: It is approximately 1100 mL in a normal adult male.
D. Residual volume (RVIt is about 1200 mL in a normal adult male.
LUNG CAPACITIES
Lung capacities are combination of two or more pulmonary volumes and include
A. Inspiratory capacity. This is the maximum volume of the air that can be inspired after
normal tidal expiration. Therefore, it equals the tidal volume plus inspiratory reserve
volume (TV + IRV) and is approximately 3500 mL in a normal adult male.
B. Expiratory capacity. It is the maximum volume of air that can be expired after normal
tidal inspiration. It equals tidal volume plus expiratory reserve volume (TV + ERV) and is
approximately about 1600 mL in a normal adult male.
C. Functional residual capacity. It is the volume of the air remaining in the lungs after
normal tidal expiration. Therefore, it equals the expiratory reserve volume plus the
residual volume (ERV + RV) and is about 2300 mL in a normal adult male.
D. Vital capacity (VC). This is the maximum amount of air a person can expel from the lungs
after the deepest possible inspiration. Therefore it equals tidal volume plus inspiratory
reserve volume plus expiratory reserve volume (TV + IRV + ERV) and is about 4600 mL in
a normal adult male.
E. Total lung capacity (TLC). It is the volume of air present in the lungs after the maximal
inspiration. It equals the vital capacity plus the residual volume (VC + RV) and is about
5800 mL in a normal adult male.
2. Draw a graph differentiating obstructive and restrictive lung diseases with respect to
FEV?
3. Explain the mechanism by which vital capacity changes with respect to age,
sex, pregnancy and exercise?
Age: Vital capacity is high in young adults, low in children and old people
In children, the respiratory muscles and thoracic cage are not as strong as
adults and in old age, the compliance of the lung and chest wall decreases
and thus low vital capacity.
Sex: Vital capacity is greater in males because of the larger chest and more
muscle power.
Pregnancy: Diaphragm is pushed up by the enlarged uterus which reduces
the expansibility of lungs and thus vital capacity
Exercise: Opening up of collapsed capillaries and bronchodilatation causes
increase in vital capacity during exercise.
4. Define Vital capacity. Give its normal value.
It is the maximum volume of air that can be expired from the lungs by
forceful effort following a maximal inspiration.
Normal vital capacity – 3.2-4.8 L

5. What are the factors that affect vital capacity?


(a) Physiological
- Posture – Greater in erect posture
- Age – high in young adults , low in old age
- Sex – greater in males
- Physical build – Low in obese and very thin
- Pregnancy – Decreases
(b) Pathological
- Decreases in fibrosis, kyphoscoliosis, emphysema, pleural effusion etc

6. Why is the vital capacity greater in the standing posture than in sitting/lying
posture?
(a) Descent of the diaphragm in erect posture – increases the
capacity of thoracic cage
(b) Reduced venous return , thereby reducing the pulmonary blood
flow in erect posture
(c) More physical effort can be applied in the erect posture

7. What is the physiological significance of vital capacity?


Indicates the strength of the respiratory muscles. So the
maximum inspiratory and expiratory effort of the person can be assessed by
determining vital capacity.

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