Lung Volume Spirometer Activity 1 
Lung Volume Activity
The graph below is called a spirograph. It represents the amount of air that moves into and out of the lungs with each breath, as measured by a device called a spirometer.
(The terms that are used to describe the features of a spirograph are explained below.)
• Tidal volume is the volume of air that is inhaled and exhaled in a normal breathing movement when the body is at rest.
• Inspiratory reserve volume is the additional volume of air that can be taken into the lungs beyond a regular, or tidal, inhalation.
• Expiratory reserve volume is the additional volume of air that can be forced out of the lungs beyond a regular, or tidal, exhalation.
• Vital capacity, or total lung volume capacity, is the total volume of gas that can be moved into or out of the lungs. Vital Capacity = tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume + expiratory reserve volume.
• Residual volume is the amount of gas that remains in the lungs and the passageways of the respiratory system even after a full exhalation. This gas never leaves the respiratory system; if it did, the lungs and respiratory passageways would collapse. The residual volume has little value for gas exchange because it is not exchanged with air from outside the body.
Purpose
In this activity, you will measure your own respiratory volumes using a device called a spirometer.
Materials
• spirometer with disposable mouthpiece
Procedure
Before you begin this activity, read the information on the previous page.
1. Set the spirometer gauge to zero and insert a clean mouthpiece.
2. Begin by taking a few relaxed breaths. Then inhale normally, put the mouthpiece into your mouth, and exhale normally into the spirometer. Record the value as your tidal volume.
3. Reset the spirometer to zero. Inhale and exhale normally. At the end of the normal exhalation, put the mouthpiece into your mouth and exhale as fully as you can all in one breath. Record this value as your expiratory reserve volume.
4.
The graph below is called a spirograph. It represents the amount of air that moves into and out of the lungs with each breath, as measured by a device called a spirometer.
(The terms that are used to describe the features of a spirograph are explained below.)
• Tidal volume is the volume of air that is inhaled and exhaled in a normal breathing movement when the body is at rest.
• Inspiratory reserve volume is the additional volume of air that can be taken into the lungs beyond a regular, or tidal, inhalation.
• Expiratory reserve volume is the additional volume of air that can be forced out of the lungs beyond a regular, or tidal, exhalation.
• Vital capacity, or total lung volume capacity, is the total volume of gas that can be moved into or out of the lungs. Vital Capacity = tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume + expiratory reserve volume.
• Residual volume is the amount of gas that remains in the lungs and the passageways of the respiratory system even after a full exhalation. This gas never leaves the respiratory system; if it did, the lungs and respiratory passageways would collapse. The residual volume has little value for gas exchange because it is not exchanged with air from outside the body.
Purpose
In this activity, you will measure your own respiratory volumes using a device called a spirometer.
Materials
• spirometer with disposable mouthpiece
Procedure
Before you begin this activity, read the information on the previous page.
1. Set the spirometer gauge to zero and insert a clean mouthpiece.
2. Begin by taking a few relaxed breaths. Then inhale normally, put the mouthpiece into your mouth, and exhale normally into the spirometer. Record the value as your tidal volume.
3. Reset the spirometer to zero. Inhale and exhale normally. At the end of the normal exhalation, put the mouthpiece into your mouth and exhale as fully as you can all in one breath. Record this value as your expiratory reserve volume.
4.