Core Pulmonary Concepts

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Core Pulmonary Concepts
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Lung volumes and capacities
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Pulmonary Function
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Lung volumes

• Tidal volume (Vt)
• Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV)
• Expiratory Reserve volume (ERV)
• Residual volume (RV)

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Lung capacities

• Vital capacity (VC)
• Inspiratory capacity (IC)
• Functional Residual Capacity
• Total lung capacity (TLC)

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Spirometery
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Core measurements

• FVC
• Forced vital capacity maximum volume that can
  be exhaled forcefully (aka VC)
• FEV1 forced expiratory volume 1 second
• maximum volume exhaled in the first second of
  the test

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Core measurements

• Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)
• Maximum flow rate during a FVC maneuver varies
  with sex, age, height, etc.
• FEF25-75 forced expiratory flow, 25-75-the
  average flow rate dudring the mid portion of the
  test

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Flow-volume loop
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Diagnostic terms

• Obstructive
• Flow-limited defect
• Difficulty getting the air out of the lungs
• The following values are all diminished
• FVC, PEFR, FEV1, FEF25-75

• Restrictive
• Volume-limited defect
• Difficulty getting the air into the lung
• The following values are diminished
• FVC, FE 1, TLC
• Flows are normal

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Lung disease via PFT

• Flow-limited
• All flows are diminished
• PEFR
• FEF25-75
• Hallmark air trapping

• Volume-limited
• Flows are normal to super-normal (elasticity of
  lungs is increased)
• Volumes are small
• Hallmark tiny lungs

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Key values

• FEV1--gold standard
• All research in lung function reports this value
• FEF25-75 -another standard
• Reflects, anatomically, the small to medium size
  airways (bronchi)