Chest Wall Compliance 200 — FRCA Primary MCQ
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Correct answer: C — 200 mL/cmH2O, matching isolated lung compliance near functional residual capacity
The best answer is “200 mL/cmH2O, matching isolated lung compliance near functional residual capacity”. Chest-wall compliance near FRC is commonly about 200 mL/cmH2O, broadly similar to isolated lung compliance. When the two systems are coupled in series, their combined compliance is lower, about 100 mL/cmH2O. At FRC, inward lung recoil is balanced by the outward recoil tendency of the chest wall.
Reference: Royal College of Anaesthetists, Primary FRCA Syllabus 2021: https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2026-01/Primary-FRCA-Syllabus.pdf