Lung Capacities ▶️Extract from last thread Now, when these volumes combine, they form capacities—the bigger stories. Go to last thread ( know your physiology —1) to be able to pick up from where we stop. Today we talk about the lung capacity. This is simply the combination of two or more lung volumes. The vital capacity (VC) is the total usable air you can move in and out. It reflects how strong your breathing power really is. This is your IRV+ERV+TV. Ps: refer to former thread to understand The inspiratory capacity (IC) is the combination of tidal volume and inspiratory reserve volume. It is the maximum air that is inspired after normal expiration. IC= TV+IRV Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) is the volume of air that is remaining in the lungs after normal expiration. FRC= ERV+RV The total lung capacity (TLC) is everything combined—maximum air the lungs can hold. Your full breathing limit. TLC= IRV+TV+ERV+RV Clinically, these values matter deeply. In diseases like asthma, COPD, or fibrosis, these volumes change—helping doctors understand how damaged or restricted the lungs are. So every breath you take isn’t just air… it’s a measurement of life, capacity, and survival. THIS IS THE END OF TODAY'S know your physiology.
