Linear dimensions and volumes of human lungs

Journal Article · Fri Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Health Physics

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0b013e318259f413 · OSTI ID:1239191

Hickman, David P. ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

TOTAL LUNG Capacity is defined as “the inspiratory capacity plus the functional residual capacity; the volume of air contained in the lungs at the end of a maximal inspiration; also equals vital capacity plus residual volume” (from MediLexicon.com). Within the Results and Discussion section of their April 2012 Health Physics paper, Kramer et al. briefly noted that the lungs of their experimental subjects were “not fully inflated.” By definition and failure to obtain maximal inspiration, Kramer et. al. did not measure Total Lung Capacity (TLC). The TLC equation generated from this work will tend to underestimate TLC and does not improve or update total lung capacity data provided by ICRP and others. Likewise, the five linear measurements performed by Kramer et. al. are only representative of the conditions of the measurement (i.e., not at-rest volume, but not fully inflated either). While there was significant work performed and the data are interesting, the data does not represent a maximal situation, a minimal situation, or an at-rest situation. Moreover, while interesting, the linear data generated by this study is limited by the conditions of the experiment and may not be fully comparative with other lung or inspiratory parameters, measures, or physical dimensions.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC52-07NA27344
• OSTI ID: 1239191
• Report Number(s): LLNL-JRNL--543911
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 103; ISSN 0017-9078
• Publisher: Health Physics SocietyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English