Spirometry as an Indicator of Vital Lung Capacity, Lab Report Example

Abstract

Respiration encompasses the control of breathing, gas transport and transfer, and ventilation. All these functions are essential in the extraction, and distribution of air from the atmosphere to the body so as to perform physiological functions. We recorded airflow using a spirometer and measured the four main pulmonary capacities. We attempted to find the correlation between pulmonary capacity and weight. A spirometer was employed to measure the amount of inspired and expired gas using their volume to determine the four pulmonary capacities. It was found that individuals with increased height have an increased vital capacity. Future experiments that explore the relationship between height and vital capacity should be conducted to determine the presence of additional causative variables.

Introduction

Respiration encompasses the control of breathing, gas transport and transfer, and ventilation. All these functions are essential in the extraction, and distribution of air from the atmosphere to the body so as to perform physiological functions. Broadly, spirometry is defined as the measuring of breath. Spirometry is an ideal indicator of lung vital capacity. It is possible that many biological and environmental factors impact an individual’s vital lung capacity either due to partially inhibited inhalation or exhalation. Many individuals believe that taller individuals have increased vital lung capacity. Therefore, spirometry will be used to explore the relationship between vital lung capacity and height. It is hypothesized that taller individuals will have a higher vital lung capacity.

Methodology

A spirometer was obtained and fitted with a mouthpiece over the stem. During inhalation through the spirometer, the spirometer was kept level with the ground and the subject held their nostrils shut to yield better results. The spirometer was set to zero by twisting the dial. The subject inhaled through the nose and exhaled through the spirometer at the normal rate. The dial reading was recorded in Table 21-1 in the boxes labeled a. The procedure was repeated twice and the average of the results was recorded in Table 21-1. The subject was asked to take three deep breaths and to exhale maximally after every breath. The spirometer was reset to zero. The subject inhaled maximally through their nose and exhaled maximally through the spirometer. The procedure was repeated twice, the average of the results was obtained and recorded in Table 21-1. The spirometer was reset to zero. The subject inhaled normally through their nose and exhaled maximally through the spirometer. The procedure was repeated twice, the average of the results obtained and recorded in Table 21-1. Using the formula,, expiratory reserve volume was calculated. The results were recorded in Table 21-1. Using the formula,, the internal reserve volume was obtained via calculation. The results were recorded in Table 21-1. The subject’s height was measured and recorded in Table 21-2 in metric units. Data from all other classmates was collected and recorded in Table 21-2.

Results and Discussion

Unprocessed data is shown below in table 21-1 and table 21-2. Figure 1 shows a graphical representation of the relationship between height and vital lung capacity. As height increases, vital lung capacity increases. A linear relationship indicates that there is an R² value of 0.40, signifying that there is a relationship between these two variables. The associated Pearson’s correlation coefficient is 0.63. Therefore, there is a significant association.

Considering the results obtained from the experiment, one can safely conclude that height is a determining factor in an individual’s vital capacity. This is because of the obvious physiological differences in the subjects used to conduct the experiment. Taller individuals have a higher lung capacity and as such have a higher vital capacity. However, it is important to note that not all the data collected conforms to this generalization. Factors such physical activity may play a role in this.

Table 21-1 Calculations used to estimate vital lung capacity

Table 21-2 Unprocessed representation of height and vital lung capacity

Bibliography

Bowden, Vicky R and Cindy S Greenberg. Pediatric nursing procedures. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2012. Print.

Chatburn, Robert L and Eduardo Mireles-Cabodevila. Handbook of respiratory care. Sudbury: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2011. Print.

Johns, David P and Rob Pierce. Pocket guide to spirometry. North Ryde: McGraw-Hill Australia, 2011. Print.