spirometry

spi·rom·e·ter

S0649600 (spī-rŏm′ĭ-tər)n. An instrument for measuring the volume of air entering and leaving the lungs.

spi′ro·met′ric (-rə-mĕt′rĭk) adj.spi·rom′e·try n.

spirometry

the measurement of the breathing capacity of the lungs. — spirometer, n.See also: Medical Specialties

Thesaurus

Noun

spirometry - the use of a spirometer to measure vital capacitymeasurement, measuring, mensuration, measure - the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule; "the measurements were carefully done"; "his mental measurings proved remarkably accurate"

Translations

Spirometry

enUK

Spirometry

The measurement, by a form of gas meter, of volumes of gas that can be moved in or out of the lungs. The classical spirometer is a hollow cylinder (bell) closed at its top. With its open end immersed in a larger cylinder filled with water, it is suspended by a chain running over a pulley and attached to a counterweight. The magnitude of a gas volume entering or leaving is proportional to the vertical excursion of the bell. Volume changes can also be determined from measurements of flow, or rate of volume change, that can be sensed and recorded continuously by a transducer that generates an electrical signal. The flow signal can be continuously integrated to yield a volume trace.

The volume of gas moved in or out with each breath is the tidal volume; the maximal possible value is the vital capacity. Even after the most complete expiration, a volume of gas that cannot be measured by the above methods, that is, the residual volume, remains in the lungs. It is usually measured by a gas dilution method or by an instrument that measures blood flow in the lungs. Lung volumes can also be estimated by radiological or optical methods.

At the end of an expiration during normal resting breathing, the muscles of breathing are minimally active. Passive (elastic and gravitational) forces of the lungs balance those of the chest wall. In this state the volume of gas in the lungs is the functional residual capacity or relaxation volume. Displacement from this volume requires energy from natural (breathing muscles) or artificial (mechanical) sources. See Respiration

Spirometry

the measurement of the breathing capacity of the lungs. Spirometry was introduced in 1846 by the English scientist J. Hutchison.

Breathing capacity comprises the resting tidal volume of air that moves in and out of the lungs with each breath (approximately 500 cc), the inspiratory reserve volume of air that enters the lungs with maximal inhalation (approximately 1,500 cc), and the expiratory reserve volume of air that emerges from the lungs with maximal exhalation after normal exhalation (approximately 1,600 cc).

The breathing capacity of the lungs is usually measured with a spirometer (see Figure 1), which consists of a water-filled cylindrical tank that contains a floating cylindrical bell (1). The bell is

Figure 1

open at the bottom end and balanced by two counterweights. A rubber connecting tube (2) passes beneath the bottom of the bell. When a person forcefully exhales into the tube after taking a deep breath, the exhaled air forces the interior cylinder to rise. The volume of exhaled air is measured in cm³ according to a calibrated scale (3). Air is released from the spirometer by turning a valve (4).

The spirometer is used in examining healthy persons and in diagnosing and treating diseases of the lungs and cardiovascular system. In recent years spirographs have also been used to measure breathing capacity. Respiratory movements are recorded on spirograms, and breathing capacity is calculated according to special tables.

V. F. POZHARISKII

spirometry

[spī′räm·ə·trē] (physiology) The measurement, by a form of gas meter (spirometer), of volumes of air that can be moved in or out of the lungs.

spirometry

[spi-rom´ĕ-tre] measurement of the breathing capacity by means of a spirometer; results can record capacity" >total lung capacity, vital capacity, volume" >tidal volume, capacity" >functional residual capacity, and volume" >residual volume.incentive spirometry a goal-oriented inhalation maneuver in which the patient is encouraged by visual feedback from a spirometer to execute sustained maximal inhalation. Patients usually perform 10 to 20 sustained deep breath exercises an hour until they can achieve their predicted inspiratory reserve volume. See illustration.

Spirometry, showing respiratory volumes and capacities as subdivisions of total lung capacity. From Applegate, 2000.

spi·rom·e·try

(spī-rom'ĕ-trē), Making pulmonary measurements with a spirometer.

spirometry

The measurement of the movement of air in and out of the lungs during various breathing maneuvers, which is the most important pulmonary function test. See Incentive spirometry, Pulmonary function test.

spi·rom·e·try

(spī-rom'ĕ-trē) Making pulmonary measurements with a spirometer.

spirometry

S15-883680 (spi-rom'e-tre) [L. spirare, to breathe, + Gr. metron, measure] Measurement of air flow and lung volumes. See: pulmonary function test

INCENTIVE SPIROMETER

incentive spirometry

Spirometry in which visual and vocal stimuli are given to the patient to produce maximum effort during deep breathing. Incentive spirometry is used most often in postoperative patients to prevent atelectasis. See: illustration

spirometry

A lung function test used to determine the efficiency with which air passes from the atmosphere to the ALVEOLI of the lungs and carbon dioxide passes out. Spirometry can also be used to assess the maximum volume of air that can be made to pass in and out of the lungs (the vital capacity).

Spirometry

A test using an instrument called a spirometer that shows how difficult it is for an asthmatic patient to breathe. Used to determine the severity of asthma and to see how well it is responding to treatment.Mentioned in: Asthma

spi·rom·e·try

(spī-rom'ĕ-trē) Making pulmonary measurements with a spirometer.

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Words related to spirometry

noun the use of a spirometer to measure vital capacity

Related Words