Measuring Respiratory Volumes

The following questions refer to Activity 1: Measuring Respiratory Volumes.

1. What activity are you simulating when you click the ERV button? __ Maximal exhalation__________________

What additional muscles are used in this activity? ___The internal intercostals and abdominal wall muscles are also used in this activity_______

2. What was the MRV calculated in Activity 1? ___ MRV = TV x Respiratory Rate __________

3. What does the pump rate simulate? _ It changes the number of beats per minute and it stimulates respiratory rate__________

The following questions refer to Activity 2: Examining the Effect of Changing Airway Resistance on Respiratory Volumes.

4. How did changing the radius effect FEV1 (%)? __By decreasing the radius the FEV decreased. __________

5. What was the FEV1 at a radius of 5.00 mm? ___ 3541 mm____________________________________________________________

6. Do the results suggest that there is an obstructive or restrictive problem? Explain. Yes, because if the airway becomes smaller, then the resistance to airflow will increase and the FEV will decrease.

Activity 3: Examining the Effect of Surface

Simulating Factors Affecting Respirations

The following questions refer to Activity 3: Examining the Effect of Surfactant.

7. What effect does the addition of surfactant have on the airflow? It increases the amount of air being inhaled.

8. Why does surfactant affect airflow? __ It decreases, because the surface tension in the alveoli makes it easier for the alveoli to increase the surface area for the gas exchange._____________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

9. Why do premature infants have difficulty breathing? _ Because, infants don't produce surfactant. And if they do it’s not enough._______________________________________________________

The following questions refer to Activity 4: Investigating Intrapleural Pressure.

10. What effect does opening the valve have on the left lung? Why does this happen? When opening the valve the left lung collapsed. b. It happened because of intrapleural and the atmospheric pressure it has.

11. What condition does opening the valve simulate? __ Pneumothorax_________________________________________

12. What is the value of the pressure in the left lung when the valve is opened? __Zero____________________________________