Pulmonary
Function Test
Pulmonary Function Tests:
Spirometry
lung Volumes
Diffusion Capacity
Walking Oximetry
LUNG VOLUMES &
•
CAPACITIES:
Tidal Volume (VT):The volume of air entering the nose or mouth
per breath (500 ml).
• Residual Volume (RV): The volume of air left in the lungs after a
maximal forced expiration (1.5L).
• Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV): The volume of air that is
expelled from the lung during a maximal forced expiration that
starts at the end of normal tidal expiration (1.5L).
• Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV): The volume of air that is
into the lung during a maximal forced
inhaled
inspiration starting at the end of a normal tidal
inspiration (2.5L).
Capacity
• Functional Residual Capacity (FRC): the volume of air remaining in the
lungs at the end of a normal tidal expiration (3 L).
• Inspiratory Capacity (IC): The volume of air that is inhaled into the lung
during a maximal forced inspiration effort that begins at the end of a
normal tidal expiration (VT+IRV=3L).
• Vital Capacity (VC): The volume of air that is expelled from the lung
during a maximal forced expiration effort starting after a maximal forced
inspiration (4.5L).
• total Lung Capacity (TLC): The volume of air that is inhaled into the lung
after a maximal inspiration effort (5-6 L)
Diffusion Capacity:
• Estimates the transfer of oxygen in the alveolar air to the
red blood cell. Factors that influence the diffusion:
• 1) Area of the alveolar-capillary membrane (A)
• 2) Thickness of the membrane (T)
• 3) Driving pressure
• 4) Hemoglobin
• A-Decreased:
1) Decrease the area of the diffusion: Lung/lobar resection,
bronchial obstruction, and IPF.
2) Increase the thickness of the alveolar-capillary membrane: IPF,
CHF, pulmonary vascular diseases.
3) Decrease the driving pressure: smoking, CO exposure
4) Haemoglobin: Anemia, Hemoglobinopathy.
• B- Increased:
• Pulmonary hemorrhage
• Polycythemia
• Early CHF
• Asthma
• Exercise
• Obesity
• Left to right shunt
