Question

How would an individual with emphysema affect each of the following respiratory volumes:

a. Tidal Volume:

b. Expiratory Reserve Volume:

c. Vital Capacity:

Answer 1

The effects of emphysema are the following

A) Tidal Volume

Tidal volume may not change at all, but it takes longer to exhale than with normal lungs, however most of the airway obstruction in emphysema occurs during exhalation causing air to get trapped in the lungs.

B) Expiratory Reserve Volume

Expiratory reserve volume is the additional amount of air that can be expired from the lungs by determined effort after normal expiration. Static hyperinflation is caused by a decrease in elasticity of the lung due to emphysema. So we can say that due to emphysema the ERV decreases.

C) Vital Capacity

Vital capacity is the maximum amount of air a person can expel from the lungs after a maximum inhalation. Mild emphysema is supposed to be accompanied by slight reduction of the vital capacity, and the vital capacity decreases with increasing capacity of emphysema.

Answer 2

Here's how an individual with emphysema affects each of the following respiratory volumes:
a. Tidal Volume: The Tidal Volume will decrease
b. Expiratory Reserve Volume: The ERV will decrease
c. Vital Capacity: The Vital capacity will decrease
In this kind of disease, the lung tissue involved in the exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) is not performing at its capacity.