Lung Volume – Function, Task & Diseases
Lung Volume
The lungs are a pair of organs used for respiration in humans and air-breathing vertebrates . The capacity of breathing is called lung volume . The lungs take in oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide. Two lungs lie in the thoracic cavity on either side of the human body, separated by the mediastinum . While the right lung has two lobes, the left lung has three. The lungs are in turn subdivided by the branched bronchi . The site of gas exchange , i.e. the conversion of inhaled oxygen into carbon dioxide, takes place in the alveoli. They have a bubble-like structure and give the lungs a spongy appearance.
What is lung volume?
The lung volume is used to designate different volumes of space in the lungs that are occupied by the air when breathing. These are determined by inhaling and exhaling, i.e. inhaling and exhaling .
Lung inspiration is the phase of the respiratory cycle where air enters the pathways of the lungs through active work of breathing. This is done by tensing the respiratory muscles . In the case of particularly heavy breathing, the auxiliary respiratory muscles are used. During inhalation, only a certain part of the possible volume of the lungs is filled. Exercising, however, allows more air to enter the lungs. This excess is called the inspiratory reserve volume . This is usually around three liters.
Expiration, in turn, is the phase of the respiratory cycle in which breathing air leaves the lungs and is therefore exhaled. This occurs under resting conditions through the relaxation of the diaphragm , through the thorax, and through the elasticity of the lungs. A forced exhalation can take place by using the entire respiratory musculature, the respiratory accessory musculature and the intercostal musculature. The latter has a herringbone pattern of skeletal muscle that forms between the chest wall and stretches and stretches between the ribs .
In addition to the work of the diaphragm, it serves as the most important part of the entire respiratory musculature, lifting and lowering the ribs and thus enabling inhalation and exhalation.
During expiration, the lungs are only partially emptied by the exhaled gas. The remaining volume of gas is called the end-expiratory lung volume . What remains is the expiratory reserve volume, which can also be exhaled through exertion. The remaining portion of the air that cannot be exhaled is called the residual volume.
The amount of air breathed when the body is at rest is about half a liter. The respiratory time volume, in turn, is the volume that is breathed in a very specific period of time. This is measured in liters per minute, from which the respiratory rate is derived, which is then multiplied by the tidal volume. This is around 7.5 liters per minute when the person is at rest.
function & task
In a healthy adult, the lung volume is about three liters. 8 liters for athletes and competitive swimmers and up to 10 liters for extreme divers.
In fact, respiratory exercise also improves and increases lung volume, allowing for better lung and respiratory system performance. Other possibilities are breathing techniques, which are used, for example, in meditative exercises or yoga .
There are various ways to test the lung volume yourself (such as the candle or balloon test), but these only allow an approximate value. Such means also give people an impression of their performance and endurance. Exercise also helps to increase your own lung volume.
In the candle test, a candle is lit and placed about a meter away. If it is possible to blow out the candle from this distance, the lung volume is excellent. The balloon test can also be used to determine the lung volume by showing how full the balloon is when you blow it in once. This expiratory vital capacity is an indicator of lung volume. If the balloon is bulging and larger than your head, the lung volume is okay.
If the lung function is very low, this can sometimes be because bacteria have settled in the lungs. These can be reduced by taking a hot shower. The hot steam rinses out the vessels, breathing becomes easier again. Omega-3 fatty acids also improve the performance of the lungs and the total lung volume increases.
Diseases & Ailments
Lung diseases can be dangerous. Pneumonia is often fatal , especially in older people who are bedridden .
For example, asthma is a disease in which the volume of the lungs is severely restricted and requires various medicinal agents to stimulate it. Asthmatics are often out of breath during physical exertion. An inhaler may counteract this.
In so-called obstructive lung diseases, breathing out is made more difficult by a narrowing or obstruction of the airways . This slows all breathing and causes the lungs to over-inflate. Inhalation and exhalation, including the gas volume, are measured using lung function diagnostics. With the help of spirometry or body plethysmography, the small and large lung function can be measured and checked.
With spirometry, lung volume and airflow velocity are measured and recorded, thereby assessing overall lung function. The specialty for this is called pneumology . Changes that occur in the course of the breathing cycle can also be determined in more detail. Medicine uses a spirometer for this purpose .
Hello! I am Lisa Newlon, and I am a medical writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience in the healthcare industry. I have a Master’s degree in Medicine, and my deep understanding of medical terminology, practices, and procedures has made me a trusted source of information in the medical world.