"FRC medical" likely refers to Functional Residual Capacity (FRC), a term used in respiratory medicine. The FRC is the volume of air remaining in the lungs after a normal, passive exhalation.
Understanding Functional Residual Capacity (FRC)
Here's a more detailed breakdown of FRC:
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Definition: The volume of air left in your lungs after you breathe out normally.
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Normal Value: In a typical adult, the FRC is about 3 liters.
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Significance:
- It represents the point in the breathing cycle where the elastic recoil of the lung tissue and the outward expansion of the chest wall are balanced.
- FRC is clinically important because it affects gas exchange in the lungs. Changes in FRC can indicate underlying lung conditions.
Clinical Relevance
Changes in FRC can be indicative of various respiratory conditions. For example:
- Increased FRC: May be seen in conditions like emphysema, where there is air trapping in the lungs.
- Decreased FRC: May occur in conditions like pulmonary fibrosis or obesity, where lung volumes are reduced.
Measuring FRC
FRC can be measured using various techniques, including:
- Nitrogen Washout: Involves breathing 100% oxygen until all the nitrogen is washed out of the lungs.
- Helium Dilution: Involves breathing a known concentration of helium until it's evenly distributed in the lungs.
- Body Plethysmography: Uses Boyle's Law to determine lung volume.
