Syllabus · Current · V5 (2025) · Respiratory System
C9 · Respiratory Measurement
C9.iii · Pulmonary Function Tests
Describe the measurement and interpretation of pulmonary function tests.
Written examination
SAQ history
Respiratory Physiology — Obstructive PFTs
1 exam appearance
Outline the abnormalities in pulmonary function testing of a person with severe obstructive lung disease (40% marks). Describe the physiological changes that explain these abnormalities (60% marks).
0%
Respiratory Physiology — Pregnancy Spirometry
1 exam appearance
Draw (include labels and normal values) a normal spirometry trace in a young adult (20% of marks). Describe the changes seen in the spirometry, and the respiratory system overall, in pregnancy at term (80% of marks).
50%
Oral examination
VIVA history
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2019B · Day 3 · VIVA 7
This viva will assess your knowledge of pulmonary physiology. This is spirometry from a young adult during a vital capacity breath. Can you describe the volumes and capacities? (Image removed from report.)
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2019A · Day 2 · VIVA 4
This viva is about respiratory physiology. Which lung volumes can you measure with spirometry? (Image removed from report.)
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2018B · Day 2 · VIVA 5
This viva will explore respiratory physiology. Describe the spirometry trace, indicating the volumes and capacities of a 70 kg male. (Image removed from report.)
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2007B · VIVA 8
Ventilator waveform graphic. What are the axes of the two graphs?
Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.