Spirometry Flashcards
What kind of test is spirometry?
A pulmonary function test (PFT)
What is spirometry used to measure i relation to inhalation / exhalation?
- volume
- speed (flow)
What conditions is spirometry used to assess?
- Asthma
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Chronic Pulmonary Obstructive Disorders (CPOD)
It is also used in sport science testing
What can be used to measure lung capacity?
- peak flow meter
- vitalograph
- spirometer
What does a peak flow meter measure?
The rate at which air is expelled from the lungs.
How does a vitalograph work?
The patient breathes out into a mouthpiece as quickly as possible, and the instrument then produces a graph showing how much air was breathed out and how quickly this happened.
This is called the forced expiratory volume in 1 second.
What is meant by breathing rate?
The number of breaths taken per minute.
What is meant by ventilation rate?
The total volume of air inhaled in one minute.
How do we calculate ventilation rate?
Ventilation rate = tidal volume x breathing rate
What is tidal volume?
The volume of air that moves in and out of the lungs with each resting breath.
What is expiratory reserve volume?
The extra amount of air that can be forced out of the lungs over and above the normal tidal rate.
What is the residual volume?
The volume of air left in the lungs after exhaling as hard as possible.
What is the vital capacity?
The volume of air that can be breathed in when the strongest possible exhalation is followed by the deepest possible intake of breath.
What is total lung capacity?
The sum of the vital capacity and residual capacity.
What is the inspiratory reserve volume?
The maximum volume of air that can be breathed in over and above a normal inhalation.
