Lung function

• Ventilation rate - How many breaths per minute
• Tidal volume - The volume of air in each breath
• Residual volume - The volume of air remaining in the lungs after maximum forceful expiration

  • Makes sure they never fully deflate
• You can measure lung function using a spirometer and work out breathing rate, tidal volume and ventilation rate from a spirometer trace:

  
• The health and function of a person's lungs can be measured by looking at their:

  • Forced expiratory volume (FEV1) - The maximum volume of air that can be breathed out in 1 second
• The health and function of a person's lungs can be measured by looking at their:

  • Forced vital capacity (FVC) - The maximum volume of air it is possible to breathe forcefully out of the lungs