IB Biology: B3.1-Measurement of Lung Volumes

Front

What is tidal volume?

Back

The volume of air that is breathed in or out during a typical cycle when a person is at rest.

Front

What is inspiratory reserve volume?

Back

The maximum volume of air that a person can breathe in.

Front

What is expiratory reserve volume?

Back

The maximum volume of air that a person can breathe out.

Front

What is vital capacity?

Back

The sum of the inspiratory reserve volume, the tidal volume, and the expiratory reserve volume.

Front

What is ventilation rate or breathing rate?

Back

The number of breaths, including inhalation and exhalation, taken per minute.

Front

How can ventilation in humans be monitored?

Back

Via simple observation (counting number of breaths per minute), chest belt and pressure meter (recording the rise and fall of the chest), or spirometer (recording the volume of gas expelled per breath).

Front

What does spirometry involve?

Back

Measuring the amount (volume) and/or speed (flow) at which air can be inhaled or exhaled.

Front

What is a spirometer?

Back

A device that detects the changes in ventilation and presents the data on a digital display.

Front

What is a simplistic method to measure ventilation?

Back

Breathing into a balloon and measuring the volume of air in a single breath.

Front

How can the volume of air in a balloon be determined?

Back

By submerging the balloon in water and measuring the volume displaced (1ml = 1cm³).