Deluxe Lung Apparatus

by GSC International

   The Deluxe Lung Apparatus is a visual demonstration of how a lung is emptied, and the filled, with air by the contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm muscle. Two balloons, representing the lungs, are attached to a #7 1-hole rubber stopper by way of a polypropylene Y-connector. The downward pointing portions of the connector are a representation of the bronchi, with the single upward section and rubber stopper being the trachea. The plastic bell jar is a simulacrum of the chest cavity, and the rubber sheet sealing the bottom of the jar is the diaphragm.

   As the diaphragm is pulled downward using the knob, the atmospheric pressure inside the bell jar is lowered (creating an increase in volume), causing the lungs to expand. As it is released, the lungs contract due to a reduction in volume and an increase in pressure. Where the lungs are concerned, pressure and volume are inversely proportional to each other. As one increases, the other decreases.

   The basic principle behind this is the Ideal Gas Law, where P is equal to pressure, V is volume, n is the number of moles of gas, R is the universal gas constant, and T is the temperature in Kelvin. The equation is PV=nRT, and in this case with the lungs, because there are only changes in pressure and volume, the equation can be simplified to PV=n.

The approximate size of the deluxe lung apparatus is 8″ x 8″. An instruction sheet is included with each apparatus.