Results for spirometer
On this page:
 
Dictionary:

spirometer

  (spī-rŏm'ĭ-tər) pronunciation
n.

An instrument for measuring the volume of air entering and leaving the lungs.

spirometric spi'ro·met'ric (-rə-mĕt'rĭk) adj.
spirometry spi·rom'e·try n.
 
 
Food and Nutrition: spirometer

Or respirometer, apparatus used to measure the amount of oxygen consumed (and in some instances carbon dioxide produced) from which to calculate the energy expended (indirect calorimetry).

 

A device for measuring the volume of gases inspired into and expired from the lungs during ventilation.

 

Measurement of the breathing capacity by means of a spirometer.

 
Wikipedia: spirometer

A spirometer is an apparatus for measuring the volume of air inspired and expired by the lungs. It is a precision differential pressure transducer for the measurements of respiration flow rates. The spirometer records the amount of air and the rate of air that is breathed in and out over a specified time. The Spirometer and attached flow head function together as a pneumotachometer, with an output signal proportional to airflow. It was invented by John Hutchinson in 1846.

A modern USB-based spirometer, http://www.iqteq.com
Enlarge
A modern USB-based spirometer, http://www.iqteq.com

The output produced by a spirometer is called a kymograph trace. From this, vital capacity, tidal volume, breathing rate and ventilation rate (=tidal volume x breathing rate) can be calculated. From the overall decline on the graph, the oxygen uptake can also be measured.

History

Some early work (1859) using a spirometer was done by Edward Smith in London.


An example of a modern spirometer printout, http://www.iqteq.com
Enlarge
An example of a modern spirometer printout, http://www.iqteq.com


See also


 
Shopping: spirometer
incentive spirometer
 
 

Join the WikiAnswers Q&A community. Post a question or answer questions about "spirometer" at WikiAnswers.

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Food and Nutrition. A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2005 by A. E. Bender and D. A. Bender. All rights reserved.  Read more
Sports Science and Medicine. The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine. Copyright © Michael Kent 1998, 2006, 2007. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Spirometer" Read more

Search for answers directly from your browser with the FREE Answers.com Toolbar!  
Click here to download now. 

Get Answers your way! Check out all our free tools and products.

On this page:   E-mail   print Print  Link  

 

Keep Reading

Mentioned In: