Question

How does a spirometer create a 'spirometer trace' with fluctuations and not a linear graph?

Since oxygen is being used and carbon dioxide is absorbed by soda lime, why doesn't the volume of gas decrease at a constant rate?

Answer 1

umm its not supposed to

when anesthetist has it in use

when pt is NOT under mild sedation , completely "knocked out" the body cannot perform regular breathing so it must be done manually

since the body does also have carbon dioxide in the body
not just only oxygen

it is used to regulate the amount of each gas that is in the body

to make sure there is intake of oxygen
exhale carbon dioxide
during breathing

if this is not done
there will be fatal consequences