Respiratory Forces and Variations of Static Lung Volumes in Healthy Subjects

Abstract

We present an analysis of a series of 158 healthy men and women in whom the static lung volumes, anthropometric data, and specific variables of inspiratory and expiratory force were measured. Clearly systematic covariations were found between respiratory force and vital capacity and between residual capacity and functional residual capacity. In normal subjects the maximal respiratory forces exert only a marginal effect on the static lung volumes. The relationships indicate, however, that, for the physiological variations in the lung volumes mentioned, an effect of the interindividual variations in respiratory forces exists, although of small absolute degree.

Key Words:

• P max
• regression analysis
• static lung volumes