Due to dyspnea, a 34-year-old male is assessed. Complete pulmonary function tests and measures of lung capacity are performed on the patient. In the image below, his pulmonary volume curve (blue line) is contrasted with a typical person's curve (black line): Which of the following measures is increased in this patient?

Question

Due to dyspnea, a 34-year-old male is assessed. Complete pulmonary function tests and measures of lung capacity are performed on the patient. In the image below, his pulmonary volume curve (blue line) is contrasted with a typical person's curve (black line):  Which of the following measures is increased in this patient?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary illness breathe at greater baseline lung volumes as a result of air trapping and hyperinflation (higher functional residual capacity). The amount of air in the lungs that is not being breathed grows significantly in both absolute terms (residual volume) and as a percentage (residual volume/total lung capacity ratio).

Due to Dyspnea, a 34-Year-Old Male Is Assessed