Spirometry is a medical test that measures how much air a person breathes in and out. The word "Spirometry" is pronounced as /spaɪˈrɑːmətri/ according to the IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable, "spi", sounds like "spy" and the second syllable, "rometry", sounds like "raw-muh-tree". The letter combination "sp" is pronounced like "spy" and the letter "i" before the "r" is pronounced like "eye". The ending "-metry" means measurement, and in this case, it refers to the measurement of airflow.
Spirometry is a diagnostic and monitoring tool used in pulmonary medicine to assess lung function and measure various parameters related to airflow dynamics. It involves the measurement of airflow and volume of air that is inhaled or exhaled during the process of breathing.
During spirometry, the individual breathes through a mouthpiece attached to a device called a spirometer, which records and analyzes the data. The spirometer measures the volume of air inhaled and exhaled, as well as the speed at which air is expelled from the lungs.
The primary purpose of spirometry is to evaluate lung capacity and airflow limitations, allowing healthcare professionals to diagnose and monitor respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and restrictive lung diseases. Spirometry can provide important information about lung function, including vital capacity (the maximum volume of air that can be exhaled after a deep inspiration), forced vital capacity (the amount of air forcefully exhaled after a maximum inhalation), forced expiratory volume in one second (the volume of air exhaled in the first second of forced expiration), and peak expiratory flow rate (the maximum speed at which air can be expelled from the lungs).
Spirometry plays a crucial role in assessing the severity of lung diseases, determining treatment plans, and monitoring response to therapy. It is a non-invasive and cost-effective method that provides objective measurements of lung function, aiding in the diagnosis and management of various respiratory disorders.
Testing the air-capacity of the lungs by means of a spirometer.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "spirometry" is derived from Greek roots.
The term is composed of two parts: "spiro-" which comes from the Greek word "spīráō" (σπήιραω) meaning "breathe", and "-metry" which comes from the Greek word "metrēs" (μέτρης) meaning "to measure".
Therefore, "spirometry" literally translates to "to measure breath". The word accurately describes the process of measuring the volume and flow of air during inhalation and exhalation.