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</a><h1 class="with-also" itemprop="name">Plethysmography</h1>
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</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>Plethysmography measures changes in volume in different parts of the body. The test may be done to check for <a test="test" href="./007288.htm">blood clots in the arms and legs</a>. It is also done to measure how <a test="test" href="./007289.htm">much air you can hold in your lungs</a>.</p><p>Penile pulse volume recording is a type of this test. It is done on the penis to check for causes of <a test="test" href="./007617.htm">erectile dysfunction</a>.</p><p>Most commonly, this test is performed to check blood flow in the arteries of the legs. This is done in people with conditions like hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). <a test="test" href="./000171.htm">Atherosclerosis</a> causes pain during exercise or poor healing of leg wounds.</p><p>Related tests include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003433.htm">Vascular ultrasound</a></li><li>Ankle brachial indices </li></ul></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>Respiratory inductance plethysmography; Penile pulse volume recording; Pulse volume recordings; Segmental pulse volume recordings</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/9748t.jpg" alt="Plethysmography" title="Plethysmography" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/9748.htm">Plethysmography</a></li>
</ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>References</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Ref" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Burnett AL, Ramasamy R. Evaluation and management of erectile dysfunction. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. <em>Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology</em>. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 69.</p><p>Lohr J, Zarkowsky DS. Vascular laboratory: venous physiologic assessment. In: Sidawy AN, Perler BA, eds. <em>Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy</em>. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 24.</p><p>Recht MH, Muck PE. Vascular laboratory: arterial physiologic assessment. In: Sidawy AN, Perler BA, eds. <em>Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy</em>. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 21.</p></div></div></section>
<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 7/5/2022</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: Jason Levy, MD, FSIR, Northside Radiology Associates, Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.</p>
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