Bröstkorgscompliance

Bröstkorgscompliance, also known as thoracic compliance, refers to the ability of the chest wall and lungs to expand and contract. It is a measure of how easily the chest cavity can be stretched or deformed. A higher compliance indicates that the chest wall and lungs are more easily stretched, requiring less pressure to achieve a given volume change. Conversely, low compliance means that the chest wall and lungs are stiff and resistant to stretching, requiring more pressure to inflate.

This property is crucial for efficient breathing. During inhalation, the inspiratory muscles, primarily the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, contract to increase the volume of the thoracic cavity. This increase in volume leads to a decrease in intra-pulmonary pressure, causing air to flow into the lungs. The compliance of the chest wall and lungs determines how much this volume increases for a given muscular effort.

Several factors can affect bröstkorgscompliance. Age, for instance, tends to decrease compliance as lung tissue becomes less elastic. Diseases such as emphysema can increase compliance due to the destruction of lung tissue, making the lungs overly elastic. Conversely, conditions like pulmonary fibrosis or pneumonia can decrease compliance by stiffening the lung tissue and chest wall. Measuring bröstkorgscompliance is important in clinical settings to assess respiratory function and guide treatment for various lung diseases.