Residual volume

The residual volume (RV) is the volume of air that remains in the lungs after maximum exhalation and thus designates the amount of breathable air that is permanently held in the lungs (i.e. cannot be breathed out arbitrarily ) and, depending on age, approx. 1.5 liters ( in an adult human). The opposing forces of the chest wall and lungs are in balance. Only in the event of death (or in the event of external violence or the occurrence of a pneumothorax of various causes) can the lung air assigned to the lung capacity escape.

The residual volume cannot be measured using spirometry. Indirect measurement methods such as the helium dilution method or measurement using whole-body plethysmography are suitable for its determination .

See also: lung volume

Individual evidence

↑ Reinhard Larsen: Anesthesia and intensive medicine in cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgery. (1st edition 1986) 5th edition. Springer, Berlin / Heidelberg / New York et al. 1999, ISBN 3-540-65024-5 , pp. 472-476 ( lung volumes and spirometry ); here: p. 472 f.
↑ Thomas Pasch, S. Krayer, HR Brunner: Definition and parameters of acute respiratory insufficiency: ventilation, gas exchange, respiratory mechanics. In: J. Kilian, H. Benzer, FW Ahnefeld (ed.): Basic principles of ventilation. Springer, Berlin a. a. 1991, ISBN 3-540-53078-9 , 2nd, unchanged edition, ibid 1994, ISBN 3-540-57904-4 , pp. 93-108; here: p. 101.

[1] Reinhard Larsen: Anesthesia and intensive medicine in cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgery. (1st edition 1986) 5th edition. Springer, Berlin / Heidelberg / New York et al. 1999, ISBN 3-540-65024-5 , pp. 472-476 ( lung volumes and spirometry ); here: p. 472 f.

[2] Thomas Pasch, S. Krayer, HR Brunner: Definition and parameters of acute respiratory insufficiency: ventilation, gas exchange, respiratory mechanics. In: J. Kilian, H. Benzer, FW Ahnefeld (ed.): Basic principles of ventilation. Springer, Berlin a. a. 1991, ISBN 3-540-53078-9 , 2nd, unchanged edition, ibid 1994, ISBN 3-540-57904-4 , pp. 93-108; here: p. 101.