Lung volumes Flashcards
What is a lung capacity
Sum of two or more lung volumes
What is an average tidal volume
7ml/kg
500mls
Define tidal respiration
the volume of gas inhaled or exhaled during normal respiratory cycle
Define inspiratory reserve volume
is the maximum volume of additional air that can be inspired over and above VT after normal end inspiratory level during tidal breathing
What is an average inspiratory reserve volume
45ml/kg
3150mls
What affects IRV
Kyphosis
Rib fractures
COPD
Anything reducing range of movement of diaphragm and chest wall
Expiratory reserve volume define
maximum volume of additional air that can be expired from the end expiratory level following normal tidal exhalation
What is an average value for expiratory reserve volume
15ml/kg
1050mls
Residual volume define
the volume remaining in the lungs at maximum exhalation
What is an average volume for residual volume
15ml/kg
1050mls
What is FRC
‣ The volume of gas present in the lung at end expiration during normal tidal breathing
What is FRC made up of - what is its volume therefore
ERC + RV
2100mls
30ml/kg
Vital capacity
Maximum volume change between full inspiration and full expiration
67ml/kg
4.8L
ERV + VT + IRV
Inspiratory capacity
VT + IRV
Maximum inspiration capacity from FRC
What is an average inspiratory capacity
52ml/kg
3.6L
TLC define
Volume of gas in the lungs after maximal inspiration
What is an average value for TLC
82ml/kg
5.7L
How do lung volumes change with age 4
TLC increases until reaching maximal heigh then remains similar
FRC increases until maximal growth and slowly increases
Residual volume increases until maximal growth and then slowly increase throughout life, is responisble for all of the increase in FRC with a fall in ERV later in life
Draw and label a volume loop
What can spirometry measure in terms of lung volumes
◦ All lung volumes with the exception of residual volume can be measured in this way
What other ways of measuring lung volumes are there 3
Gas dilution
Body plethysmography
Multiple breath nitrogen washout test
What gas is used in the gas dilution method of assessing lung volumes? Why?
5% helium, does not diffuse across alveolar capillary barrier so any drop is due to redistribution in the lung
How does the gas dilution of lung measurements work
◦ Patient breathes 5% helium, through a spirometer (known volume and concentration)
‣ does not diffuse across alveolar capillary barrier (insoluble), any drop is due to redistribution in the lung
◦ At the end of tidal expiration a spirometer containing a known concentration is opened ot the patient
◦ The patient breathes in an out until He equilibrates
◦ The new concentration is then used to work out volume
‣ Concentration of helium x volume in spirometer (prior to opening) = concentration at equilibrium x (volume in spirometer + FRC)
‣ C1 x V1 = C2 x V2 (where V2 is V1 + FRC)
‣ If the same spirometer is opened to the patient after full inspiration the TLC can be calcualted
What equation is the foundation of the gas dilution method
◦ Patient breathes 5% helium, through a spirometer (known volume and concentration)
‣ does not diffuse across alveolar capillary barrier (insoluble), any drop is due to redistribution in the lung
◦ At the end of tidal expiration a spirometer containing a known concentration is opened ot the patient
◦ The patient breathes in an out until He equilibrates
◦ The new concentration is then used to work out volume
‣ Concentration of helium x volume in spirometer (prior to opening) = concentration at equilibrium x (volume in spirometer + FRC)
‣ C1 x V1 = C2 x V2 (where V2 is V1 + FRC)
‣ If the same spirometer is opened to the patient after full inspiration the TLC can be calcualted
What device is used to measure the changes in volume during the gas dilution method
Spirometry
What phase of the respiratory cycle does the gas dilution conventionally measure?
End tidal expiration
FRC
Therefore the FRC is measured as it is V1 + FRC = V2
How might the gas dilution method be altered to assess TLC
Open it to the patient at full inspiration
What are the problems with the gas dilution method 2
‣ Understimate lung volumes as if airways are patient or air trapping equilibration can be impaired - if the tracer has not mixed widely and evenly
‣ No gas is perfectly insoluble so some is lost
What is the principle of body plethysmography
◦ Subject and equipment in a large airtight box with a known gas volume
‣ Patient sits and breaths through a mouthpeice with a shutter and pressure transducer
‣ Pressure transducer in wall of box
What is Boyle’s law
at a constant temperature, the volume of a fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to its absolute pressure.
‣ Pressure x volume = constant
‣ Pressure (chest) x volume (chest) = pressure (box) x volume (box)
What is the Boyle’s law principle applied to Body plethysmography
‣ Pressure x volume = constant
‣ Pressure (chest) x volume (chest) = pressure (box) x volume (box)
What is required for Boyles law to be applied
at a constant temperature, the volume of a fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to its absolute pressure.
What does body plethysomgraphy caculate?
◦ As the subject exhales at the end of tidal exhalation shutter closes: (FRC measurement)
‣ Intrathoracic volume decreases, which means the volume of the box increases (as the walls are rigid and there is a finite volume shared by the chest and the box).
‣ Intrathoracic pressure increases, and therefore box pressure decreases proportionally.
Inspiratory occlusionin body plethysomography offers what benefit?
‣ At the end of normal expiration the mouthpeice shutter closes, and inhalation occurs against a closed mouthpeice leading to increased lung volume, with a drop in pressure wthin the lung as air cannot equialise across the presures
‣ The volume within the body plethysmograph decreases by an equal amount
‣ The body box is airtight so a decreased volume within the box must resultin an increased pressure which is measured
‣ The change in volume is measured
* before closure of the mouthpeice
* After inspiration against a closed mouthpeice
* Pressure before close x volume before closure = pressure post closure x (volume before closure - change in volvume)
Conventionally done at end of tidal expiration
‣ Mouthpeice pressure before closure x FRC = mouthpeice pressure after inspiration (FRC + change in volume)
What proportion does nitrogen make up in the air
79%