Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) Practice Exam

How easily the elastic forces in the lungs accept a volume of air is referred to as what?

1. Elastic recoil

2. Pulmonary compliance

3. Tidal volume

4. Residual volume

The correct answer is: Pulmonary compliance

Pulmonary compliance refers to how easily the lungs can expand when air is inhaled. It is a measure of the lung's ability to stretch and accommodate a volume of air. High pulmonary compliance indicates that the lungs can easily expand with less effort, which is important for efficient breathing. This characteristic is crucial for maintaining proper ventilation and ensuring adequate oxygen supply to the body. Elastic recoil, while related to lung function, specifically describes the lungs' ability to return to their original size after being stretched or expanded. Tidal volume is the amount of air inhaled or exhaled during normal breathing, and residual volume refers to the air that remains in the lungs after a maximal exhalation. These concepts are important in understanding respiratory mechanics, but the term that specifically addresses how easily the lungs accept air is pulmonary compliance.