Name

Section Date/Time

Lab 9: Respiratory System Mechanics

All questions are worth 4 points each

Activity 1: Measuring Respiratory Volumes and Calculating Capacities

1. Based on your results, is there an obstructive or a restrictive pulmonary
problem? How do you know?

Activity 2: Comparative Spirometry

1. Comparing the patient with emphysema to a normal person, which values for
lung measurements and functional tests are changed and why?
2. Comparing the patient with an acute asthma attack to a normal person,
which values for lung measurements and functional tests are changed and
why?
3. Compare the breathing rates during normal breathing, moderate exercise,
and heavy exercise. Why did you see the changes in rates that you did?

Activity 3: Effect of Surfactant and Intrapleural Pressure on Respiration

1. What effect on airflow do you see when you add surfactant? Why?
2. What is a pneumothorax? How was it simulated in this experiment? What
emergency procedure would be used to fix a pneumothorax in a living
person?