Respiratory and Lung Volumes
Respiratory volume is the total volume of air that a person inhales and exhales over a specific time period. This includes both the tidal volume (the amount of air that is inhaled and exhaled during a single breath) and the inspiratory and expiratory reserve volumes (the amount of air that can be inhaled and exhaled after a normal breath).
Lung volume is the total volume of air that a person’s lungs can hold. This includes the tidal volume, the inspiratory reserve volume, and the expiratory reserve volume.
Respiratory and Lung Volumes – Categories and Capacities Values
The average respiratory rate for an adult is 12-18 breaths per minute. The tidal volume is the volume of air that is inhaled during a single breath.
The inspiratory reserve volume is the amount of air that can be inhaled after the tidal volume is exhaled.
The expiratory reserve volume is the amount of air that can be exhaled after the tidal volume is inhaled. The residual volume is the amount of air that is left in the lungs after exhaling. The inspiratory capacity is the sum of the tidal volume and the inspiratory reserve volume. The functional residual capacity is the sum of the expiratory reserve volume and the residual volume. The total lung capacity is the sum of the inspiratory capacity and the expiratory capacity.
