Enhancing respiratory physiology education: innovative wet spirometer modifications for hands-on learning

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Physics Education
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Traditional wet spirometers have declined in use due to limitations in measuring static lung volumes and technical difficulties.
• Students often encounter challenges when using conventional wet spirometers, hindering effective learning.
• There is a need for accessible and engaging tools to teach respiratory physiology and fluid dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To modify a wet spirometer to investigate fundamental laws of flow and lung diseases.
• To enhance student understanding of fluid dynamics and respiratory physiology through hands-on experimentation.
• To provide a cost-effective alternative to complex simulations or fragile instruments for educational purposes.

Main Methods:

• Modified a standard wet spirometer by altering dimensions, adding a printed scale, and incorporating an airflow control system (ACS).
• Conducted two exercises: Exercise I compared modified spirometer readings with traditional and computerized spirometers; Exercise II investigated factors affecting airflow.
• Integrated data collection, statistical analysis, and group discussions into the experimental process.

Main Results:

• The modified spirometer demonstrated suitability for measuring lung parameters, comparable to computerized devices.
• The airflow control system (ACS) enabled precise flow regulation during exercises.
• Students gained practical experience in experimental design, data analysis, and applying physics principles to physiology.

Conclusions:

• The cost-effective modifications significantly broaden the applicability of the wet spirometer.
• The enhanced device effectively addresses student handling issues and improves comprehension of fluid dynamics.
• This modified spirometer offers an accessible and engaging approach to respiratory physiology education, integrating physics and physiology without expensive equipment.