Measuring lung capacity

• Components of lung volume:

  1. Tidal volume
  2. Vital capacity
  3. Inspiratory reserve volume
  4. Expiratory reserve volume
  5. Residual volume
• Tidal volume - Volume of air that moves into and out of the lungs with each resting breath
• Vital capacity - Volume of air that can be breathed in when the strongest possible exhalation is followed by the deepest breath possible intake
• Spirometer:

  Measures different aspects of lung volume / Investigate breathing patterns
• Readings of a spirometer

  A) Tidal volume

  B) Expiratory reserve volume

  C) Inspiratory reserve volume

  D) Residual volume

  E) Vital capacity

  
• Total lung capacity - Vital capacity + Residual volume
• Breathing rate - Number of breaths taken per minute
• Ventilation rate = tidal volume x breathing rate (per minute