Spirometer Flashcards
What does a spirometer measure?
Vital capacity
It measured the air movement in and out of a person as they breathe
What is in a floating chamber spirometer?
A chamber filled with medical grade oxygen floating on a water tank
What happens to a spirometer in inspiration?
Air is taken out of the chamber so the lid moves down
What happens to a spirometer in expiration?
Air goes into the chamber so the lid moves up
The CO2 passes the soda lime which absorbs it
What precautions should be taken with a spirometer?
Subject should be healthy
Soda lime should be fresh and functional
No air leaks that will cause invalid or inaccurate results
Mouth piece should be sterile
Water chamber must be overfilled
Oxygen is medical grade
What is vital capacity?
The maximum volume of air that can be moved by the lungs in 1 breath
How is vital capacity measured?
The subject inhaled deeply then exhaling all the air possible from the lungs
What can affect the vital capacity?
Height
Age
Gender
Level of regular exercise
What is the average persons vital capacity?
2.5 - 5 dm3
What is the residual volume?
The volume of air that remains in the lungs even after forced expiration in the alveoli and bronchioles
What is the tidal volume?
The volume moved in and out of the lungs in a normal breath at rest
What is the average persons tidal volume?
0.5 dm3
What is the inspiratory reserve volume?
The difference between the bottom of the tidal volume and the bottom of the vital capacity
What is the exspiratory reserve volume?
The difference between the top of the tidal volume and the top of the vital capacity
