Question

As people age, there is usually a decrease in their

A. Ratio of lung residual volume to vital capacity.

B. Percentage of vital capacity expelled in one second.

C. Lung volume level at which small airways start to close during expiration.

D. Lung elasticity.

E. Resting arterial blood PO2.

Answer 1

A. False Residual volume increases and vital capacity decreases.

B. True This gradually falls with normal ageing.

C. False The ‘closing volume’ increases with age.

D. True This increases residual and closing volumes.

E. True There is, however, little change in oxygen saturation.