alleryStart learning →Vital capacity is which sum, and what range is quoted for it?
ATidal plus residual, about 2000 to 3000 mL
BResidual plus expiratory reserve, about 3000 mL
CTidal plus inspiratory reserve, about 6000 mL
DAll volumes except residual, about 4000 to 5000 mL
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. All volumes except residual, about 4000 to 5000 mL
1. Vital capacity is the air a person can move into or out of the lungs.
2. Residual volume cannot be moved, so it is excluded from the sum.
3. That leaves VC = TV + ERV + IRV, which is all the volumes except residual volume.
4. The quoted range is between 4000 and 5000 millilitres.
5. The second option is functional residual capacity rather than vital capacity, since RV plus ERV is the air left after a tidal expiration.
6. The third option omits expiratory reserve volume and inflates the figure to the total lung capacity value of about 6000 mL.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 22 "The Respiratory System", section 22.3 The Process of Breathing_
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