Lung compliance
Affects of aging on pulmonary system
Orthopnea
Pulmonary edema
Topic 13 Quiz
Version-2
Study Guide
Grand Canyon University
1. Lung compliance –(textbook p. 1236)
(Normally, the elastic properties of the lung chest wall permit expansion during
inspiration and retraction or return to resting volume during expiration. The elastic
properties of the lung are due to elastin fibers (connective tissue) in the alveolar
walls, the surrounding small airways, and the pulmonary capillaries and due to
surface tension at the alveolar air liquid interface. The elasticity of the chest wall
is also a result of the configurations of the bones and musculature of the chest
wall).
Lung compliance is the measure of lung and chest wall distensibility (or, ease of
expansion and inflation). It represents the ease with which lung and chest wall
structures can be stretched. Compliance is therefore the reciprocal of elasticity.
Compliance is determined by alveolar surface tension, and the elastic recoil of the
lung & chest wall. It can be measured with the following formula: