Spirometer
Spirometer
A Spirometer (pronounced: spi-rom-e-ter) is a medical device used to measure the volume of air inspired and expired by the lungs. It is commonly used in pulmonary function testing.
Etymology
The term "Spirometer" originates from the Latin word "Spira" meaning "breath" and the Greek word "metron" meaning "measure".
Function
A Spirometer is used to diagnose breathing disorders such as asthma, COPD, and pulmonary fibrosis. It measures the amount of air a person can inhale and exhale, as well as the speed at which the air is moved in and out of the lungs.
Types of Spirometry Tests
There are several types of tests that can be performed with a spirometer, including:
- Forced Vital Capacity (FVC): This measures the amount of air a person can exhale forcefully and quickly after a deep inhale.
- Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1): This measures the amount of air a person can exhale forcefully in one second.
- Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF): This measures the maximum speed a person can exhale.
Related Terms
- Pulmonology: The branch of medicine that deals with the causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases affecting the lungs.
- Respiratory Therapist: A healthcare professional who specializes in providing healthcare for people with breathing disorders.
- Pulmonary Function Test: A group of tests that measure how well the lungs take in and release air and how well they move gases such as oxygen from the atmosphere into the body's circulation.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Spirometer
- Wikipedia's article - Spirometer
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