Expert: Florence M Rollwagen - 10/2/2008

Question
QUESTION: How do you calculate the total volume of gas that the person breathed in from the graph that show a measurement of the volumes of gas breathed in & out of the lungs which shows the spirometer trace of a person who breathed normally at rest & then took a deep breathed. Thnks a lot

ANSWER: Hi Warm:  You are obviously confused about what this site is all about.  You can ask ONE question (not a homework question) and I can answer it.  

Please just consolidate your question(s) and I will try to help you!

FM Rollwagen, PhD

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QUESTION: Its only 1 question i jz add more detailed so that u get wat i mean..I jz wan 2 knw how to calculate total volume of gas breathed in of lungs cz i hv checked all the bio txtbk n notes, i found nothing bout tis so i ask tis question i case u knw..If u dnt knw nevermind..Its ok..Anyway thanks

ANSWER: Hi Warm:  First, you should learn to spell when addressing professionals.  This is very insulting.

Second, the equipment you need is called a "spirometer"  More about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirometer

FM Rollwagen, PhD

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QUESTION: ok..i will try to spell fully..sorry for all i have done or said..how to calculate total volume of gas on of lungs if you dont have spirometer?

Answer
Hi again, Warm:  How about blowing up a balloon and measuring the volume?

Formula for volume of sphere:
http://www.aaamath.com/geo79-volume-sphere.html

Or, if the lungs are out of the body (like a cadaver) you could measure the volume by water displacement.

Hope this helps!

FM Rollwagen, PhD