Lung compliance
Lung Compliance
Lung compliance (pronunciation: /lʌŋ kəmˈplaɪəns/) refers to the measure of the lung's ability to stretch and expand. In medical terms, it is the volume change per unit pressure change during the act of ventilation.
Etymology
The term 'compliance' originates from the Latin word 'complere', which means 'to fill up'. In the context of lung physiology, it refers to the lung's capacity to fill up with air.
Definition
Lung compliance is a key factor in respiratory physiology. It describes how much effort is required to stretch or expand the lungs. The higher the lung compliance, the easier it is for the lungs to expand. Conversely, lower lung compliance indicates that the lungs are stiff and require more effort to expand.
Factors Affecting Lung Compliance
Lung compliance can be affected by several factors, including:
- Elastin and collagen content of the lung tissue
- Surface tension at the air-liquid interfaces within the alveoli
- The size and shape of the thoracic cavity
Clinical Significance
Changes in lung compliance can be indicative of various pulmonary diseases. For instance, decreased lung compliance is a characteristic of pulmonary fibrosis and pneumonia, while increased lung compliance may be seen in emphysema and aging lungs.
Measurement
Lung compliance is typically measured using a spirometer, which records the volume of air inhaled and exhaled during breathing. The measurement is usually done during a forced exhalation after a full inhalation.
Related Terms
- Elastance: The reciprocal of compliance, representing the tendency of the lungs to return to their original position after being stretched.
- Tidal Volume: The amount of air that moves in or out of the lungs with each respiratory cycle.
- Residual Volume: The volume of air remaining in the lungs after a maximal exhalation.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lung compliance
- Wikipedia's article - Lung compliance
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski