Which diagnostic test is primarily used to measure lung function?

Spirometry is a fundamental diagnostic test specifically designed to assess lung function by measuring the volume of air that can be inhaled and exhaled, along with the speed of these airflow measurements. This test provides critical information about how well the lungs are working and can help diagnose various respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other disorders affecting lung airflow.

The significance of spirometry lies in its ability to provide valuable metrics such as forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). These measurements can indicate restrictive or obstructive lung diseases, helping healthcare providers make informed decisions about management and treatment strategies.

While other diagnostic methods like X-rays or bronchoscopy serve important roles in visualizing lung structures or obtaining tissue samples, they do not measure lung function directly. Pulmonary function tests is a broader category that includes spirometry among other assessments, but when specifically asked about a test that primarily measures lung function, spirometry is the most direct and widely utilized option.