Which statements are correct for vital capacity?
I. It includes ERV, TV and IRV
II. Total volume of air inspired after normal expiration
III. Maximum volume of air breathed in after forced expiration
IV. Includes ERV, RV and IRV
V. Maximum volume of air exhaled after forced inspiration
(NEET Re-2022)
Answer & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: C — IRV + ERV + TV
Vital Capacity is the maximum volume of air that can be moved in and out of lungs. It includes Inspiratory Reserve Volume + Expiratory Reserve Volume + Tidal Volume (IRV + ERV + TV). Residual Volume is NOT included because it cannot be expelled from lungs. Option c is correct as VC = IRV + ERV + TV.
Read more NCERT concept on the PYQ
📖 NCERT Source
Vital Capacity (VC): The maximum volume of air a person can breathe in after a forced expiration. This includes ERV, TV and IRV or the maximum volume of air a person can breathe out after a forced inspiration.
Vital Capacity (VC) is the maximum air volume that can be breathed in or out, calculated as IRV + TV + ERV. NTA tests whether students can identify which lung volumes compose VC and understand it excludes Residual Volume (RV). Students commonly mistake VC as including RV, or confuse it with Total Lung Capacity (TLC = VC + RV). The key to solving NEET questions: remember VC = IRV + TV + ERV only, and RV is always separate because it cannot be exhaled. This distinction between VC and TLC has appeared multiple times and remains a high-probability topic.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does NCERT say about Vital Capacity VC maximum?
Vital Capacity (VC): The maximum volume of air a person can breathe in after a forced expiration. This includes ERV, TV and IRV or the maximum volume of air a person can breathe out after a forced inspiration.
Has this concept appeared in NEET?
Yes — appeared in NEET 2023, 2022. Defines Vital Capacity as including ERV, TV and IRV (= IRV + ERV + TV)
Which chapter is this from?
Breathing and Exchange of Gases, Class 11 NCERT Biology.
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