INTRODUCTION
Respiration can be categorizes into outer respiration and inner respiration. Inner respiration is a biochemical processes occur in the cells that releases energy whereas outer respiration is a mechanical process for air inhalation to the lungs and exhalation from the lungs.
The main parts of human respiration system are the nostril, trachea, bronchus and lungs. However, the lungs are the most important part of the system because it links to bronchus, bronchia and alveoli. In both lungs of an adult there are about 300 million alveoli in which help gas exchange to happen. Ninety percent of the lung is filled with air and only 10% is hard tissue. There are differences in male and female lung where the average lungs of a male are 1060 grams while female lungs average of 930 grams[1].
In order to measure whether the lungs are normally perform, a lung function test can be done to determine the lung volumes and capacities using a spirometer. A spirometer is a device use to assess the air blown up into a mouthpiece. This test is necessary especially if an individual is having chest or lung symptoms so as to investigate factors affecting lung performance and the important parameters involved.
DISCUSSION
This experiment was done to measure the capacity of a human lung from different aspects where the factors that might affect the functionality of the lung such as the size, the environment, body position and metabolic activity. The total lung capacity (TLC) is the maximum volume of air present in the lungs that usually depends on the person’s age, height, weight, and gender.
There is a gap difference of vital capacity between the young and the elder. Elderly left higher residual volume and carry on a low inspiratory reserve volume than the young does because the lungs become less elastic as age increase (De Martinis and Timiras, 2003). Besides that, tall people have a larger TLC than shorter people and females usually have lower capacity than males.
The spirometer used can determine the pulmonary function in assessing the performance of the lungs such as the volume of air that we breathe in and out and for screening the presence of obstructive and restrictive diseases. The important parameter is the forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV). FVC is the volume of air that can forcibly be blown out after full inspiration while FEV is the maximum volume of air that can be blown in respective second during the FVC manoeuvre. FEV also is the primary indicators of lung function.
For the effects of size and smoking, same subjects is used for the determination of FVC and FEV. Although subject that doing post is smaller, but her size of lung is bigger than pre’s subject. However, both subjects were interpreted as restrictive. Restrictive pattern occurs when subject has low FVC and FEV than predicted levels but the FEV/FVC ratio is normal. The results obtained are due to illness (flu) and smoky environment where subject lives in. Having flu will cause difficulties in breathing where oxygen is prevented from reaching the bloodstream because there is a protein in the virus that destroys the protein responsible for clearing up fluids that accumulate the lungs[2]. Smokers have a lower capacity than non-smokers yet passive smoker are exposed to the tobacco smoke that gradually increase the chances of getting lung cancer.
For the effects of metabolic activity, subject was asked to cycle for 10 minutes in order to see any changes to the lung when the amount of air inhaled is greater. The results interpreted that subject is in normal condition because subject’s FVC and FEV is more than predicted and the ratio is also higher. While for posture, subject was asked to blow during standing and lying position. Subject is also interpreted as having normal condition for the same reason. The results for lying position is slightly lower because the body is in relax and there is no pressure for respiration.
The air we breathe in consists of oxygen, nitrogen and other gases but only oxygen that will diffuse into the lung. Blood in the lung happen to have higher concentration of carbon dioxide whereas the air inspired into the alveolus has greater concentration of oxygen.
The number of breaths inhaled and exhaled per minute is named as the breathing rate. It is normally measured when a person is at rest and the normal rate would be 12 breaths per minute. If a person used the same air over and over, the rate will only change by performing metabolic activity. The range is from 12 to 20 breathes per minutes depending on the workouts done.
Athletes such as swimmers usually have larger lung volumes than non-athletes because of the consistency of doing aerobic activity that exhibits greater lung capacity. Professional swimmers have large lung capacity because they have to comprise two breathing actions while swimming that is inspiration and expiration that makes their total lung capacity is greater.
REFERENCES
[1] N.A. (2009). Amazing Facts about the Lungs. A 2 Z of Beauty and Fitness. Retrieved February 19, 2010 from < http://health.learninginfo.org/lungs-facts.htm>
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