Lung volume is the percentage of air that the lungs can hold in a given period of time. This differs from person to person. The physical differences that accompany lung volume are known as lung volumes. There's also something very similar to this called lung capacity, which is the variety of combinations that lung volumes can take. This has to do with the inhalation and exhalation of air in and out of the lungs.
On average, a human being can hold 6.3 quarts (6 liters) of air in their lungs at any one time. However, the capacity of the lungs that is needed for regular breathing uses a very small proportion of this. Every minute, an average person takes nine to 20 breaths.
The type of respiration performed by humans, as well as all types of mammals, is known as tidal respiration. What this means is that when air is breathed into the body, it enters the lungs the same way it leaves the lungs. It is sometimes described as tidal volume (TV). Another aspect that is important to this is the fact that there is no conscious effort involved in respiration for all mammals. Breathing is involuntary.
Lung volume measurements can be used as a tool for the study. They provide valuable information about how the lungs work. Lung volume may also be beneficial in terms of evaluating respiratory diseases.
There are some terms related to lung volume that are important to be aware of. Vital capacity (VC) is the total amount of air that can be exhaled after one inhalation. There is never a point where the lungs contain no air at all; To be alive, mammals must have air circulating to and from their lungs. Residual volume (RV) is the volume of air that remains in the lung after a complete exhalation. VC and RV add up to give total lung capacity (TLC).
Lung volume can be affected by a variety of factors. Some of these can be controlled voluntarily, while others are not under the control of the individual. People who tend to have larger lung volumes include men, taller people, athletes, non-smokers, and people who live at high altitudes. On the other hand, those with smaller lung volumes often include women, shorter individuals, non-athletes, smokers, and those residing in low-lying areas.