Body Plethysmography

&
Spirometry
Ferdinand B. Sta. Ana, Jr.
Learning Unit VI
College of Medicine
University of the Philippines Manila
Physiology
The respiratory system is responsible for the exchange of gases between the
environment and the body
Lung Ventilation – Inspiration and Expiration
Mechanics of Breathing
Two principles that govern the behavior of air during breathing: Boyle’s Law and Flow

Inspiratory muscles contract -> expand lung volume -> decrease alveolar pressure -> create
pressure gradient causing air to travel inward
Inspiratory muscles relax -> decrease lung volume -> increase alveolar pressure -> create
pressure gradient expelling air
Mechanics of Breathing: Compliance
Mechanics of Breathing: Resistance
Autonomic nervous system affecting
bronchial smooth muscles –
parasympathetic (constriction) &
sympathetic (relaxation)
Forced Expiration &Equal Pressure Point
Static and Dynamic Properties
Device: Spirometer
Interpretation
Device: Whole Body Plethysmograph
Interpretation
Innovations
Respiratory System Mechanics (forced pressure oscillations, esophageal balloon for
pleural pressures
Less invasive pulmonary gas exchange analysis
Exhaled biomarker analysis
Ventilation-Perfusion mapping
“Imaging” (acoustical, electrical)
Possible improvements: portable plethysmography, effort-independent methods
References
Costanzo, L. (2017). Physiology (6th ed). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.
Hyatt, R., Scanlon, P., & Nakamura, M. (2014). Interpretation of Pulmonary Function
Tests (4th ed). China: Wolters Kluwer.
MacIntyre, N.R. (2012). The Future of Pulmonary Function Testing. Respiratory Care
57(1):154–161.
Taktak, A., Ganney, P., Long, D., & White, P. (2014). Clinical Engineering: A handbook
for Clinical and Biomedical Engineers. Oxford, UK: Elsevier.