Activity 9: Comparative Spirometry
Normal Breathing:
33. What do you think is the clinical importance of the FVC and FEV1 values?
34. Why do you think the ratio of these two values is important to the clinician when diagnosing respiratory diseases?
Emphysema Breathing:
35. Is the FVC reduced or increased?
36. Is the FEV1 reduced or increased?
37. Which of these two changed more?
38. Explain the physiological reasons for the lung volumes and capacities that changed in the spirogram for this condition.
Acute Asthma Attack Breathing:
39. Is the FVC reduced or increased?
40. Is the FEV1 reduced or increased?
41. Which of these two changed more?
42. Explain the physiological reasons for the lung volumes and capacities that changed in the spirogram for this condition.
43. How is this condition similar to having emphysema? How is it different?
44. Emphysema and asthma are called obstructive lung diseases as they limit expiratory flow and volume. How would a spirogram look for someone with a restrictive lung disease, such as pulmonary fibrosis?
45. What volumes and capacities would change in this case, and would these values be increased or decreased?
46. In an acute asthma attack, the compliance of the lung is decreased, not increased as it was for emphysema, and air flows freely through the bronchioles. Therefore, will the FEV1/FVC percentage be less than normal, equal to normal, or higher than normal?
Acute Asthma Attack Breathing with Inhaler Medication Applied:
47. Has the FVC reduced or increased? Is it “normal?
48. Has the FEV1 reduced or increased? Is it “normal”?
49. Which of these two changed more?
50. Explain the physiological reasons for the lung volumes and capacities that changed in the spirogram with the application of the medication.
Quick Reply
