Experiment- 3
Aim: To determine tidal volume and vital capacity.
Reference: Despande A. Shilpa, V. Yawashare S. Niraj, Amale N. Prashant, Shirode S. Devendar
by Nirali Prakashan, first Edition, 2018, pageN0- 45
to 47.
Requirements: Spirometer; potassium permanganate solution.
Theory:
Spirometer consists of a double-walled metal cylindrical chamber, with a light metal gas bell of 6
liters capacity floating in an outer container filled with water. The water acts as an airtight seal.
The bell is attached to a chain on its upper end which passes over a graduated frictionless pulley.
The pulley has a spring-mounted indicator needle that indicates the volume of air present in the
bell. The gas bell is counterbalanced by a weight attached to the other end of the chain for a smooth
up and down movement of the bell. The inlet tube is corrugated canvas-rubber tube with a
mouthpiece through which air moves into or out of the bell. This tube is attached to a metal pipe
at the bottom of the spirometer. When air is blown into the inlet tube, it raises the bell in the
container.
Vital Capacity (VC) is the largest volume of air that a person can expel from the lungs by forceful
expiration after forceful inspiration. It can be measured using breath measuring device called
spirometer (simple or recording). Simple spirometer is a low-cost and conventional instrument
commonly used on the laboratory scale whereas recording spirometer is a sophisticated,
electrically-driven instrument with recording system and widely used in respiratory physiology
laboratories and hospitals.
The graphical recording of the spirometer is called a spirogram in which inspiration is recorded as
an upward deflection and expiration as a downward deflection.
Calibrated pulley
The volume of air in lungs changes considerably during a respiratory cycle which can be
distinguished as four different lung volumes:
1. Tidal Volume (TV): It is the amount of air that moves into the lungs with each inspiration
(or the amount that moves out with each expiration) during normal breathing (tidal
respiration). Normal TV is about 500 ml
2. Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV): It is the volume of additional inhaled air during deep
breathing. It is about 3100 ml above the TV.
3. Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV): It is the extra volume of exhaled air during forced
expiration. It is about 1200 ml in addition to TV.
4. Residual Volume (RV): It is the volume of air remaining in the lungs after the expulsion ERV.
It amounts to about 1200 ml. Combination of specific lung volumes gives lung capacities. The
vital capacity (VC) is the total amount of air that can be exchanged between atmosphere and lungs
during normal and forced respiration. It is calculated as:
Vital capacity (VC) (4800 ml) = IRV (3100 ml) + TV (500 ml) + ERV (1200 ml)
Normal vital capacity ranges between 3.5 and 6 liters. It is used clinically as an index of lung
function and gives information about abnormal ventilation due to respiratory diseases.
Procedure:
1. Select one healthy subject for the demonstration.
2. Bring the bell to its lowest position by gently pushing it down. Adjust the pointer needle at zero,
which indicates that the bell is completely empty.
3. Make the subject to stand comfortably, facing the spirometer to see the movement of bell.
Measurement of Vital Capacity:
1. After normal breathing for one minute, ask the subject to breathe as deeply and forcibly as
possible to fill the lungs.
2. Ask him/her to close both the nostrils with a thumb and fingers, and hold the mouthpiece firmly
between the lips.
3. In this position, ask to expel all the air with maximum effort into the spirometer. The bell moves
up and the pointer on the pulley indicates the volume of expired air (The forced expiration should
be deep and quick but without excessive speed).
4. Take two more readings at interval of 5 minutes.
5. Repeat this procedure in sitting position.
Measurement of Tidal Volume:
1. Ask the subject to breathe normally (quiet breathing) for the period of one minute.
2. Ask him/her to close both the nostrils with a thumb and fingers, and hold the mouthpiece
firmly between the lips.
3. In this position, ask him/hers to expel the air with normal expiration. The bell moves up
and the pointer on the pulley indicates the volume of expired.
4. Take two more readings at interval of 5 minutes.
5. Repeat this procedure in sitting position.
Fig 2: Simple Spirometer
Observation table:
Sl. No. Parameters Vital Capacity Tidal volume
Standing Sitting Standing Sitting
1 1 reading
st
2 2 reading
nd
3 3 reading
rd
4 Mean
Result: The tidal volume and vital capacity was successfully recorded as shown in observation table.
