LUNG DISTENSIBILITY - STATIC PRESSURE-VOLUME CURVE OF LUNGS AND ITS USE IN CLINICAL-ASSESSMENT

The main points of interest in the static expiratory pressure volume [PV] curve are changes in total lung capacity, inward recoil of the lung at standard volume, and compliance, particularly close to functional residual capacity. The 2 main patterns of PV curve in restrictive lung disorders are patterns due to stiffening of the lung, and due to extrapulmonary factors which prevent a normal distending pressure being applied to the pleural surface of the lung. For assessment of a particular curve, attention must be paid to age, body or lung size and sex in regard to normal values.