THE MEASUREMENT OF RESPIRATORY RESISTANCE

Abstract: DR. MICHAEL D. GOLDMAN Boston Massachusetts I.INTRODUCTION At the outset it would be well to define the scope and goals of this paper. We may say first that it is NOT meant to be a review of pulmonary physiology. Secondly it is not intended as a broad treatment of all the mechanical factors involved in breathing. Finally it is not an attempt to correlate "clinical physiology" with certain clinical syndromes of respiratory disease. For these purposes the reader is referred to more extensive texts. (1-3) However many of the concepts brought forth here are developed in greater detail in these texts and other more specific references. (4-6) Instead this paper will present a brief review of some of the fundamental physical principles and essential mechanical relationships governing the behavior of the respiratory system. This review is directed toward understanding the significance of the measurement of respiratory resistance and its relation to some mechanical properties of the respiratory system. In order to gain significant benefit from the presentation that follows it is absolutely essential that the reader have a thorough understanding of the use of certain terminology. For this reason a glossary of useful definitions symbols and terms is inserted at this juncture. This list is not meant to include all of the commonly used terms in respiratory physiology - it is kept short purposely to afford the reader the opportunity for full understanding before proceeding further. ... ___MH

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