7.3- Measuring The Process Flashcards
What is a peak flow meter?
A simple device that measures the rate at which air can be expelled from the lungs. People with asthma often use this to measure how well their lungs are working.
What are vitalographs?
More sophisticated version of peak flow meter.
- patient breathes out as fast as they can through mouthpiece.
- instrument produces graph of amount and speed of air breathed out.
- this volume= forced expiratory volume in 1 second.
What is a spirometer?
Can be used to measure the volumes of gas breathed in and out under different conditions.
- commonly used to measure different aspects of the lung volume/ breathing patterns.
- many different forms of spirometer but all follow a common principle.
What is tidal and residual volume?
Tidal volume= vol of air that moves into and out of the lungs with each resting breath.
Residual volume= vol of air left in the lungs after exhaling as hard as possible.
What is vital capacity and total lung capacity?
Vital capacity = vol of air that can be exhaled when the deepest possible intake of breath is followed by the strongest possible exhalation.
Total lung capacity = sum of vital and residual volume.
What is inspiratory and expiratory reserve volume?
Inspiratory reserve volume= maximum vol of air you can breath in over and above a normal inhalation.
Expiratory = extra vol of air you can force out of your lungs over and above the normal tidal volume of air you breathe out.
What is breathing rate and ventilation rate?
Breathing rate= number of breaths taken per minute.
Ventilation rate= total volume of air inhaled in one minute.
Ventilation rate= tidal volume x breathing rate per min
What happens when oxygen demands increase (mammals)?
When they increase, for example during exercise, the tidal volume can increase from 15% to as much as 50% of the vital capacity.
- breathing rate can also increase.
- this results in increased ventilation of the lungs and therefore increased oxygen uptake.
