vital capacity

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The amount of air that can be forcibly expelled from the lungs after breathing in as deeply as possible.

The maximal volume of air forcefully expelled from the lungs after a maximal inspiration. It is a measure of the maximum amount of air the lungs can breathe in or out. At rest, values vary from about 3.5-6.0 litres, according to age, sex, and height. Measurements of vital capacity are used as part of a fitness assessment. A person whose vital capacity is less than 75 per cent of the expected value, is generally advised to consult a doctor for further testing before exercising vigorously. See also lung volume.

A measurement of the amount of air that can be expelled at the normal rate of exhalation after a maximum inspiration, representing the greatest possible breathing capacity.

The maximum volume of air forcefully expired after maximal inspiration. Values vary from 3.5 to 6.0 l at rest. The value decreases slightly during exercise.

Main article: Spirometry

Output of a 'spirometer'

Force vital capacity is the maximum volume of air that a person can exhale after maximum inhalation. It can also be the maximum volume of air that a person can inhale after maximum exhalation.

A person's vital capacity can be measured by a spirometer which can be a wet or regular spirometer. In combination with other physiological measurements, the vital capacity can help make a diagnosis of underlying lung disease. The unit that is used to determine this vital capacity is milliliters.

Vital capacity is the maximum amount of air a person can expel from the lungs after first filling the lungs to their maximum extent and then expiring to the maximum extent. It equals the inspiratory reserve volume plus the tidal volume plus the expiratory reserve volume.

External links

• -1281753041 at GPnotebook

v • d • e Respiratory system, physiology: respiratory physiology Lung volumes VC · FRC · Vt · dead space · CC calculations: respiratory minute volume · FEV1/FVC ratio devices: spirometry · body plethysmography · peak flow meter Airways/ ventilation (V) positive pressure ventilation · breath (inhalation, exhalation) · respiratory rate · respirometer · pulmonary surfactant · compliance · hysteresivity · airway resistance · bronchial hyperresponsiveness · bronchial challenge test · bronchoconstriction/bronchodilation Blood/ perfusion (Q) pulmonary circulation · hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction · pulmonary shunt Interactions/ ventilation/perfusion ratio (V/Q) ventilation/perfusion scan · zones of the lung · gas exchange · pulmonary gas pressures · alveolar gas equation  · alveolar-arterial gradient  · hemoglobin · oxygen-haemoglobin dissociation curve (2,3-DPG, Bohr effect, Haldane effect) · carbonic anhydrase (chloride shift) · oxyhemoglobin · respiratory quotient  · arterial blood gas  · diffusion capacity (DLCO) Control of respiration pons (pneumotaxic center, apneustic center) · medulla (dorsal respiratory group, ventral respiratory group) · chemoreceptors (central, peripheral) · pulmonary stretch receptors (Hering-Breuer reflex) Insufficiency high altitude · oxygen toxicity · hypoxia

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