Lung Volumes & Capacities — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptDistinguish between (a) IRV and ERV (b) Inspiratory capacity and Expiratory capacity. (c) Vital capacity and Total lung capacity.
Which of the following statements regarding respiratory volumes and capacities are correct? S1: A healthy human breathes approximately 12-16 times per minute, with a typical Tidal Volume (TV) of 500 mL. S2: The total volume of air inspired or expired per minute by a healthy human ranges from 6000 to 8000 mL. S3: Inspiratory Capacity (IC) is calculated as the sum of Tidal Volume (TV) and Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV). S4: Residual Volume (RV) represents the volume of air remaining in the lungs after a normal expiration and can be directly measured using a spirometer. S5: Vital Capacity (VC) includes ERV, TV, and IRV, representing the maximum volume of air a person can breathe out after a forced inspiration.
View solution & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: C — S1, S2 and S5 are correct
The core concept tested is the definition and typical values of various respiratory volumes and capacities, including the minute ventilation and the limitations of spirometry. S1: Correct. According to NCERT, a healthy human breathes 12-16 times/minute, and the Tidal Volume is approximately 500 mL. S2: Correct. The total volume of air inspired or expired per minute (minute ventilation) is the breathing rate multiplied by Tidal Volume. For a healthy man, this ranges from approximately (12 x 500 mL) 6000 mL to (16 x 500 mL) 8000 mL per minute. S3: Incorrect. Inspiratory Capacity (IC) is the total volume of air a person can inspire after a normal expiration, which includes Tidal Volume (TV) and Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV), not Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV). S4: Incorrect. Residual Volume (RV) is the volume of air remaining in the lungs even after a forcible expiration. However, it cannot be measured directly by a spirometer. S5: Correct. Vital Capacity (VC) is defined as the maximum volume of air a person can breathe in after a forced expiration (IC + ERV = TV + IRV + ERV) or the maximum volume of air a person can breathe out after a forced inspiration (TV + ERV + IRV). Based on the analysis, statements S1, S2, and S5 are correct.
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