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Pulmonary Function Tests

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Radiologic Diagnosis of Chest Disease

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Abstract

The lung has two basic simultaneous respiratory functions: the oxygenation of the incoming desaturated venous blood, and the removal of carbon dioxide and consequently of protons (H+) from this incoming blood. To perform this task adequately, both the ventilatory and the circulatory lung systems must be adapted one to another so that the ratio of the distribution of ventilation to perfusion is optimal. Ultimately, this ratio determines the functional quality of gas exchange. Apart from measurement of blood gases, there is no simple test available to give a general assessment of gas exchange in a given patient. Blood gas values, when abnormal, give no clue as to what aspect of lung function is impaired. Furthermore, these values tend to become abnormal only in the late or acute phase of lung diseases, because of the remarkable flexibility of ventilation-perfusion control.

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Authors
  1. C. Straus
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  2. J. Similowski
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  3. J.-P. Derenne
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  4. M. Zelter
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Vall d’Hebron Hospital, Universitat Autonoma, Barcelona, Spain

    Miriam Sperber MD

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© 2001 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Straus, C., Similowski, J., Derenne, JP., Zelter, M. (2001). Pulmonary Function Tests. In: Sperber, M. (eds) Radiologic Diagnosis of Chest Disease. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0693-7_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0693-7_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1179-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-0693-7

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