what is lung compliance

Lung compliance, or pulmonary compliance, is a measure of the lung's ability to stretch and expand. It is separated into two different measurements: static compliance and dynamic compliance. Static lung compliance is the change in volume for any given applied pressure, while dynamic lung compliance is the compliance of the lung at any given time during actual movement of air. Low compliance indicates a stiff lung, as seen in fibrosis, while high compliance indicates a pliable lung, as seen in emphysema. Lung compliance is calculated by dividing volume by pressure, and it is an important measurement in respiratory physiology