In our lab, we used a small electronic measuring device called a spirometer, which is a clinical measurement tool that utilizes a hollow bell inverted over water that the examinee blows into. The data recorded in Table 1 represents the Tidal Volume (TV), Vital Capacity (VC), and Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV). Tidal Volume is the amount of air that moves in and out of the lungs with each breath, measured at about 500 mL. Inspiratory Reserve Volume is the amount of air that can be inspired forcibly beyond the Tidal Volume measured at about 2,100 to 3,200 mL. As shown in Table 1, the students inspiratory reserve volume was measured at 1,583 ml. The vital capacity is the total amount of exchangeable air and is the sum of the tidal volume (TV), inspiratory reserve capacity (IRV) and the expiratory reserve volume (ERV). Expiratory reserve volume is the amount of air, measured at about 1000 to 1200 mL, that can be expelled from the lungs after a normal Tidal Volume expiration. For the students first trial, he had a 500 ml TV, a 700 ml ERV, and a 3000 ml VC. His average recorded Tidal Volume was about 519 ml, 833 ml ERV, and 2933 ml …show more content…
As shown in Figure 1, carbon dioxide was added to a beaker with a pH of 7. We observed that a good indication of a higher pH level than 7 would be a change in color. The liquid was comprised of phenol red, NaOH, and Carbon dioxide. If the liquid turned yellow, the pH was below 7. Acidosis, a declining blood pH, is an indication the levels of acid in your blood are too high and there is weakened Hb oxygen bonding. This would be considered a medical emergency because the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood increases as the blood pH decreases. [2] Respiratory alkalosis would be considered an imbalance in pH due to alveolar hyperventilation. Alveolar hyperventilation leads to a decreased partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PCO2). [3] When respiratory levels are normal, the PCO2, is in between 35 and 45 mm Hg. The difference between respiratory acidosis and respiratory alkalosis are the values. Values below 45 mm Hg would be an indication of respiratory alkalosis and anything above 45 mm Hg would be considered respiratory acidosis.