An individual\'s vital capacity can be measured with a spirometer. Spirometers c

Question

An individual's vital capacity can be measured with a spirometer. Spirometers can be used as diagnostic tools for respiratory diseases such as lung cancer and emphysema. Emphysema involves damage to the epithelial lining of the alveoli resulting in the alveoli fusing into flattened, shallow chambers. As a result, there is a substantial reduction in surface area available for gas exchange. Which values in a spirometer reading might you see in an individual suffering from emphysema? Use the spirometer to measure your vital capacity (be sure to use a new paper mouthpiece and dispose of your mouthpiece in the trashcan when done). What is your vital capacity? What is the average vital capacity for males versus females? What difference do you notice? Why is there a difference?

Explanation / Answer

Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The spirometer measures the total amount of air you are able to exhale , also known as forced vital capacity (FVC) and how much was exhaled in the first second i.e. forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).

FEV1/FVC < 70% mild emphysema

FEV1/FVC 59 -70 % moderate emphysema

FEV1/FVC 30-49% severe emphysema

FEV1/FVC < 30% very severe emphysema

The average vital capacity in males in 4.6 cc while in females it is 3.1 cc.

Females have a lower vital capacity. This may be due to the fact that females tend to have smaller lungs as well as fewer respiratory bronchioles at birth. Thus males have a higher number of total alveoli and larger alveolar surface area than females. Also for the same body size in males and females, adult males have larger conducting airways.

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