Lung volume

The lungs are a paired organ that is used for breathing in humans and air-breathing vertebrates. The efficiency of breathing is called Lung volume. The lungs take in oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide. On either side of the human body, there are two lungs in the chest cavity, which are separated by the mediastinum. While the right lung has two lobes, the left lung has three. The lungs are in turn subdivided by the branched bronchi. The place of the gas exchange, i.e. the conversion of the inhaled oxygen into carbon dioxide, takes place in the alveoli. They have a bubble-shaped structure and give the lungs a spongy appearance.

What is the lung volume?

Lung volume is the name given to various volumes of the lungs that are taken up by the air when breathing.

Lung volume is the name given to various volumes of the lungs that are taken up by the air when breathing. These are determined by inhaling and exhaling, i.e. inspiration and expiration.

The inspiration of the lungs is the phase of the respiratory cycle in which the air enters the lungs through active breathing. This is done by tensing the breathing muscles. If the breathing is particularly strong, the auxiliary respiratory muscles are added. During inhalation, only a certain part of the possible volume of the lungs is filled. However, through exertion, more air can get into the lungs. This excess is called the inspiratory reserve volume. Usually this is around three liters.

Expiration, in turn, is the phase of the respiratory cycle, in which air exits the lungs and is therefore exhaled. This happens under resting conditions through the relaxation of the diaphragm, through the chest and through the elasticity of the lungs. A forced exhalation can take place with the help of the entire respiratory muscles, the auxiliary respiratory muscles and the intercostal muscles. The latter has herringbone skeletal muscles that form between the chest wall and stretch and stretch between the ribs.

In addition to the work of the diaphragm, it serves as the most important part of the entire respiratory musculature, raises and lowers ribs and thus enables inhalation and exhalation.

During expiration, the lungs are only partially emptied by the exhaled gas. The remaining volume of gas is called the end-expiratory lung volume. What remains is the expiratory reserve volume, which can also be exhaled through exertion. The remaining portion of the non-exhaled air is called the residual volume.

The amount of air you breathe when the body is at rest is about half a liter. The respiratory time volume, in turn, is the volume that is breathed in over a specific period of time. This is measured in liters per minute, from which the breathing frequency is derived, which is then multiplied by the tidal volume. This is around 7.5 liters per minute when the person is at rest.

Function & task

In a healthy adult, the lung volume is around three liters. For athletes and competitive swimmers at eight and for extreme divers even at up to ten liters.

In fact, exercise in the respiratory area also improves lung volume, increases it and enables the lungs and respiratory organs to perform better. Other possibilities are breathing techniques that are used, for example, in meditative exercises or yoga.

There are various options (such as the candle or balloon test) to test the lung volume yourself, but these only allow an approximate value. Such means also give a person an impression of their performance and endurance. Exercises also help to increase your own lung volume.

During the candle test, a candle is lit and placed about a meter away. If it is possible to blow out the candle from this distance, the lung volume is excellent. The balloon test can also be used to detect the lung volume, as a single blow shows how full the balloon is. This vital expiratory capacity is an indicator of the lung volume. If the balloon is full and larger than your own head, the lung volume is okay.

If the lung function is very low, this can be due to the fact that bacteria have lodged in the lungs. These can be reduced by taking a hot shower. The hot steam washes out the vessels, breathing becomes easier again. Omega-3 fatty acids also improve the performance of the lungs and the total lung volume increases.

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Illnesses & ailments

Diseases in the area of ​​the lungs can be dangerous. Pneumonia is often fatal, especially for old people who are also bedridden.

Asthma, for example, is a disease in which the lung volume is severely restricted and requires various medicinal substances to be stimulated. Asthma sufferers are often left breathless during physical exertion. An inhaler may counteract this.

In so-called obstructive lung diseases, exhalation is made more difficult by a narrowing or obstruction of the airways. This slows down all breathing and inflates the lungs. The inhalation and exhalation, including the gas volume, is measured by lung function diagnostics. With the help of spirometry or body plethysmography, the small and large lung functions can be measured and checked.

With spirometry, the lung volume and the air flow velocity are measured and recorded, and thereby the entire lung function is assessed. The specialist area for this is called pneumology. Changes that occur during the breathing cycle can also be determined more precisely. Medicine uses a spirometer for this.