Compliance refers to the change in lung volume for a given change in pressure. It is the reciprocal of elastance. Compliance of the respiratory system (CRS) depends on the interaction of lung compliance (CL) and chest wall compliance (CW). CL is affected by lung volume, surface tension, blood volume, and edema, while CW is affected by posture, obesity, costal cartilage ossification, and scarring. Dynamic compliance includes the effects of resistance and hysteresis during breathing, while static compliance is measured without gas flow at equilibrium. The difference between static and dynamic compliance reflects airway resistance.