Pulmonologists rely on a variety of pulmonary function tests to assess the structure and function of the lungs. The simplest of these tests is spirometry, which evaluates the different volumes of air in the lungs. Forceful emptying of the lungs can also be assessed. Therefor it is useful to diagnose conditions affecting lung volume and airways, like COPD and asthma.
More intricate tests include full body plethysmography, diffusion capacity and exercise testing.
