Respiratory Volumes and Capacities

Tidal Volume (TV)

Volume of air inspired or expired during a normal respiration. It is approx. 500 mL., i.e., a healthy man can inspire or expire approximately 6000 to 8000 mL of air per minute.

Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV)

Additional volume of air, a person can inspire by a forcible inspiration. This averages 2500
mL to 3000 mL.

Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)

Additional volume of air, a person can expire by a forcible expiration. This averages 1000 mL to 1100 mL.

Residual Volume (RV)

Volume of air remaining in the lungs even after a forcible expiration. This averages 1100 mL to 1200 mL.
By adding up a few respiratory volumes described above, one can derive various pulmonary capacities, which can be used in clinical diagnosis.

Inspiratory Capacity (IC)

 Total volume of air a person can inspire after a normal expiration. This includes tidal volume and inspiratory reserve volume ( TV+IRV).

Expiratory Capacity (EC)

Total volume of air a person can expire after a normal inspiration. This includes tidal volume and expiratory reserve volume (TV+ERV).

Functional Residual Capacity (FRC)

Volume of air that will remain in the lungs after a normal expiration. This includes ERV+RV.

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.

Total Lung Capacity

 Total volume of air accommodated in the lungs at the end of a forced inspiration. This includes RV, ERV, TV and IRV or vital capacity + residual volume