7.3 Measuring the process Flashcards
What is a peak flow meter?
Simple device measuring the rate at which air is expelled from lungs
What can a peak flow meter be used for?
Monitor how well lungs work with asthmatics
- How does a vitalograph work?
2. What does a vitalograph produce
- Patient breathes out as quickly as possible through a mouthpiece
- Produces a graph of amount of air breathed out and how quickly it’s breathed out.
What is the ‘forced expiratory volume volume in 1 second’?
The volume of air breathed out and how fast it’s breathed out
What is a spirometer be used for?
Measure different aspects of volume of lungs or to investigate breathing patterns
What are the 6 aspects of lung volume that can be measured?
Tidal volume Vital Capacity Inspitaory Reserve volume Expiratory reserve volume Residual volume Total lung capacity
What is tidal volume?
Volume of air that moves in + out of lungs with each resting breath
Around 500cm3 at rest, 15% of the vital capacity
What is vital capacity?
Volume of air breathed in when the strongest possible exhalation is followed by the deepest possible inhalation
What is inspiratory reserve volume?
Max. vol. of air you can breathe in above a normal inhalation
What is expiratory reserve volume?
Extra amount of air you can force out of your lungs above normal tidal volume of air you breathe out
What is residual volume?
Volume of air left in lungs after hardest possible exhalation
Can’t be measured directly
What is total lung capacity?
Sum of vital capacity + residual volume
What do recordings from a spirometer show?
Different volumes of air moved in and out of lungs
What is the breathing rate?
Number of breaths taken per min
What is the ventilation rate?
Total volume of air inhaled in one min
