Systems Biology
This educational lesson focuses on lung volumes and capacities, exploring their definitions and significance in pulmonary function. Lung volumes comprise four primary components: tidal volume, the amount of air inhaled and exhaled during a regular breath; inspiratory reserve volume, the additional quantity of air that can be inhaled following a normal inspiration; expiratory reserve volume, the extra air that can be exhaled after a standard expiration; and residual volume, the volume of air remaining in the lungs after maximal expiration, which cannot be exhaled or measured through spirometry.
Additionally, there are four lung capacities calculated by combining two or more lung volumes. These include inspiratory capacity (tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume), the volume of air that can be inhaled after normal expiration; vital capacity (also referred to as forced vital capacity or FVC) (tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume + expiratory reserve volume), the amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled after a maximal inspiration; functional residual capacity (residual volume + expiratory reserve volume), the air remaining in the lungs after a standard expiration; and total lung capacity, which combines all lung volumes (tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume + expiratory reserve volume + residual volume) and measures the total volume of air in the lungs after maximal inhalation.
Lesson Outline
<ul> <li>Lung volumes <ul> <li>Tidal volume <ul> <li>Amount of air inhaled and exhaled during a regular breath</li> </ul> </li> <li>Inspiratory reserve volume <ul> <li>Additional quantity of air that can be inhaled after a normal inspiration</li> </ul> </li> <li>Expiratory reserve volume <ul> <li>Extra air that can be exhaled after a standard expiration</li> </ul> </li> <li>Residual volume <ul> <li>Volume of air remaining in the lungs after maximal expiration</li> <li>Cannot be exhaled or measured through spirometry</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Lung capacities <ul> <li>Inspiratory capacity <ul> <li>Tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume</li> <li>Volume of air that can be inhaled after normal expiration</li> </ul> </li> <li>Vital capacity (forced vital capacity or FVC) <ul> <li>Tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume + expiratory reserve volume</li> <li>Amount of air exhaled after maximal inspiration</li> </ul> </li> <li>Functional residual capacity <ul> <li>Residual volume + expiratory reserve volume</li> <li>Air remaining in the lungs after a standard expiration</li> </ul> </li> <li>Total lung capacity <ul> <li>Combines all lung volumes (tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume + expiratory reserve volume + residual volume)</li> <li>Measures the total volume of air in the lungs after maximal inhalation</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul>
Don't stop here!
Get access to 71 more Systems Biology lessons & 8 more full MCAT courses with one subscription!
FAQs
Lung volumes are the different amounts of air that can be inhaled or exhaled during specific phases of respiration, while lung capacities represent combined lung volumes. The four main lung volumes are tidal volume (TV), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), and residual volume (RV). The main lung capacities include inspiratory capacity (IC), vital capacity (VC), functional residual capacity (FRC), and total lung capacity (TLC).
A spirometer is an instrument that measures the volume of air exchanged during respiration. It helps to determine lung volumes and capacities such as tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume, expiratory reserve volume, and vital capacity. The spirometer records the volume of air inhaled and exhaled on a graph called a spirogram, enabling healthcare professionals to assess lung function and identify respiratory problems.
Tidal volume (TV) refers to the volume of air that is inhaled or exhaled during normal, relaxed breathing. In contrast, inspiratory reserve volume (IRV) is the extra amount of air that can be forcibly inhaled after a normal breath in. TV usually amounts to approximately 500mL, while IRV can range between 1900-3300mL, depending on factors like age, sex, and overall lung health.
Expiratory reserve volume (ERV) and residual volume (RV) are crucial for understanding overall lung function. ERV represents the additional volume of air that can be forcefully exhaled after a normal exhalation, and RV is the amount of air remaining in the lungs after a maximal exhalation. ERV helps assess the strength of respiratory muscles, while RV prevents the lungs from collapsing due to their residual air content. By combining ERV with other lung volumes, more comprehensive lung capacities can be calculated.
Inspiratory capacity (IC) is the total volume of air that can be inhaled after a normal exhalation, and is calculated by adding tidal volume (TV) and inspiratory reserve volume (IRV). Vital capacity (VC) refers to the maximum volume of air that can be exhaled after a maximal inhalation, encompassing TV, IRV, and ERV. Total lung capacity (TLC) represents the volume of air contained within the lungs after a maximal inspiration, which includes all four lung volumes: TV, IRV, ERV, and RV.
