Physiology practical “Respiration”
Practicum Physiology: Respiration
Practicum leader(s) Dr. Pieter Koolwijk
Dept. Physiology, Amsterdam UMC
T 020 4448110 (Secretariat Physiology)
E
Location & time Practical room Physiology, Medical Faculty Building, room MF-B039;
See course schedule
Compulsory Physiology lectures “Respiration”
preparation Manual of this practicum.
Either: Widmaier E.P. et al., Vander’s Human Physiology):
14th edition, Ch13 , pg. 446-461. 15th edition, Ch13, pg. 449-465.
Or: Martini et al., Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology:
10th edition, Ch23, pg. 873-890, 11th edition, Ch23, pg. 897-913.
Bring: calculator (a mobile phone may not be used for this).
Aims of this practicum:
Acquire knowledge about spirometric lung function parameters
Get acquainted with examination of lung function using the pneumotachograph and
the and peak flow meter
Acquire understanding of pressure-volume curves and the relationship with
compliance
1
, Physiology practical “Respiration”
GENERAL RULES - PRACTICUM PHYSIOLOGY
It is assumed that every participating student is aware of these rules.
1. Preparation
You must thoroughly study the practical manual and theory; the relevant course material and
specified pages from the textbooks.
2. On time
The practical starts exactly on time; being late means not being able to follow the practical in
question at that time. You must then follow the practical at a different time (see 7).
3. Entry test
To test your preparation, the practical starts with 7 multiple choice questions; with less than 3
correct answers you cannot participate the practical. You must then follow the practical at a
different time (see 7). The questions can be asked both from the manual and from the other
compulsory subject matter (see first page of this manual).
NB: These entry test is specifically intended to stimulate individual preparation for the practical. It
is absolutely forbidden to copy, distribute and/or make public the questions or the answers of the
entry test(s), in any way. In the event of fraud, a note of unprofessional behavior is passed on to
the Examination Board.
4. Prohibited
Smoking, eating or drinking in the practicum room is prohibited; mobile phones must be switched
off. Mobile phones may therefore not be used to read the PDFs of the practical manuals. For this
purpose only tablets and laptops may be used or a "hard copy" of the text.
5. Afterwards
You must leave your unit in good condition. Disinfect your table and sign out by the practical
student assistant. Only then have you fulfilled all obligations.
6. Follow the practical at a different time than scheduled
Contact the course coordinator to get permission to switch places with another student. Without
prior permission the access to the practical course will be denied.
7. Did you miss the practical?
Contact the course coordinator to get information about the possibilities to catch up the practical
course that you missed.
If you did not pass the entrance test or were too late, you can re-register for another practical using
the form on the door of the practical room. This registration does not guarantee that you will be
admitted to that practical. Students are only admitted if there is sufficient space.
For general questions about the Physiology practicals:
Dr. P. Koolwijk - Head of Physiology Practicals - O|2 building, by appointment only.
Tel. Secr. Physiology: 0627339910, or e-mail:
2
, Physiology practical “Respiration”
1. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
1.1 LUNG VOLUMES
Breathing (respiration) is nothing more than moving air: from the outside in through the
mouth or nose to the lungs (inhalation or inspiration) and back again (exhalation or
exhalation). The air is distributed among the different parts of the lungs, but not all of
these parts actually participate in respiration
The total lung capacity can be divided in a ventilated part, called the vital capacity and a
non-ventilated part, called the residual volume.
In this practical lesson we will determine the vital capacity (VC) and its volume
components.
The measurements are performed with a (wet) spirograph which is connected to a digital
recorder (XLL - Chart recorder) (see figure 1) and a pneumotachograph or flow meter (see
figure 6). The recording of the ventilation maneuvers on paper is called a spirogram. Such
a spirogram is shown schematically in figure 2.
Figure 1. A water-filled spirograph coupled to the DAQ - Chart recorder. (own collection Pieter
Koolwijk, Department of Physiology, Amsterdam UMC, 2019).
3
Practicum Physiology: Respiration
Practicum leader(s) Dr. Pieter Koolwijk
Dept. Physiology, Amsterdam UMC
T 020 4448110 (Secretariat Physiology)
E
Location & time Practical room Physiology, Medical Faculty Building, room MF-B039;
See course schedule
Compulsory Physiology lectures “Respiration”
preparation Manual of this practicum.
Either: Widmaier E.P. et al., Vander’s Human Physiology):
14th edition, Ch13 , pg. 446-461. 15th edition, Ch13, pg. 449-465.
Or: Martini et al., Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology:
10th edition, Ch23, pg. 873-890, 11th edition, Ch23, pg. 897-913.
Bring: calculator (a mobile phone may not be used for this).
Aims of this practicum:
Acquire knowledge about spirometric lung function parameters
Get acquainted with examination of lung function using the pneumotachograph and
the and peak flow meter
Acquire understanding of pressure-volume curves and the relationship with
compliance
1
, Physiology practical “Respiration”
GENERAL RULES - PRACTICUM PHYSIOLOGY
It is assumed that every participating student is aware of these rules.
1. Preparation
You must thoroughly study the practical manual and theory; the relevant course material and
specified pages from the textbooks.
2. On time
The practical starts exactly on time; being late means not being able to follow the practical in
question at that time. You must then follow the practical at a different time (see 7).
3. Entry test
To test your preparation, the practical starts with 7 multiple choice questions; with less than 3
correct answers you cannot participate the practical. You must then follow the practical at a
different time (see 7). The questions can be asked both from the manual and from the other
compulsory subject matter (see first page of this manual).
NB: These entry test is specifically intended to stimulate individual preparation for the practical. It
is absolutely forbidden to copy, distribute and/or make public the questions or the answers of the
entry test(s), in any way. In the event of fraud, a note of unprofessional behavior is passed on to
the Examination Board.
4. Prohibited
Smoking, eating or drinking in the practicum room is prohibited; mobile phones must be switched
off. Mobile phones may therefore not be used to read the PDFs of the practical manuals. For this
purpose only tablets and laptops may be used or a "hard copy" of the text.
5. Afterwards
You must leave your unit in good condition. Disinfect your table and sign out by the practical
student assistant. Only then have you fulfilled all obligations.
6. Follow the practical at a different time than scheduled
Contact the course coordinator to get permission to switch places with another student. Without
prior permission the access to the practical course will be denied.
7. Did you miss the practical?
Contact the course coordinator to get information about the possibilities to catch up the practical
course that you missed.
If you did not pass the entrance test or were too late, you can re-register for another practical using
the form on the door of the practical room. This registration does not guarantee that you will be
admitted to that practical. Students are only admitted if there is sufficient space.
For general questions about the Physiology practicals:
Dr. P. Koolwijk - Head of Physiology Practicals - O|2 building, by appointment only.
Tel. Secr. Physiology: 0627339910, or e-mail:
2
, Physiology practical “Respiration”
1. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
1.1 LUNG VOLUMES
Breathing (respiration) is nothing more than moving air: from the outside in through the
mouth or nose to the lungs (inhalation or inspiration) and back again (exhalation or
exhalation). The air is distributed among the different parts of the lungs, but not all of
these parts actually participate in respiration
The total lung capacity can be divided in a ventilated part, called the vital capacity and a
non-ventilated part, called the residual volume.
In this practical lesson we will determine the vital capacity (VC) and its volume
components.
The measurements are performed with a (wet) spirograph which is connected to a digital
recorder (XLL - Chart recorder) (see figure 1) and a pneumotachograph or flow meter (see
figure 6). The recording of the ventilation maneuvers on paper is called a spirogram. Such
a spirogram is shown schematically in figure 2.
Figure 1. A water-filled spirograph coupled to the DAQ - Chart recorder. (own collection Pieter
Koolwijk, Department of Physiology, Amsterdam UMC, 2019).
3
