183.643.01 ESSENTIALS OF PULMONARY FUNCTION MEASUREMENTS

Presents the theory and fundamentals underlying the measurement of pulmonary function in clinical and experimental studies. Discussions address pulmonary function, lung disease, asthma and lung pathology. The course considers the following topics and measurements; lung elasticity, lung volumes, spirometric indices, ventilation, perfusion, diffusion, and imaging assessments of lung function. Instructional material includes books, scientific papers, and practical demonstrations.

At the end of this course, students will be able to: 1. Describe the anatomy, physiology, and theory underlying the measurement of pulmonary function in clinical and experimental studies; 2. Explain why we bother to make such measurements and what they might tell us about lung function and disease; 3. Accurately interpret pulmonary function tests at the level of most pulmonary physicians and basic researchers.