What term describes the total lung capacity that can be expired voluntarily after a maximum inspiration?

Vital capacity refers to the maximum amount of air that can be voluntarily exhaled after taking the deepest possible inhalation. It is an important measurement in pulmonary function tests and represents the combined volume of inspiratory reserve volume, tidal volume, and expiratory reserve volume.

When someone takes a deep breath and then exhales as forcefully and completely as possible, the total amount of air expelled is the vital capacity. This measurement is essential for assessing lung health and is utilized in various clinical settings to evaluate respiratory conditions.

The other terms refer to different lung volume measurements: inspiratory capacity encompasses the maximum volume of air that can be inhaled after a normal expiration, functional residual capacity includes the volume of air remaining in the lungs after a normal expiration, and total lung capacity is the total volume of air the lungs can hold, which includes all lung volumes. Thus, while these terms relate to lung function, vital capacity specifically describes the volume expelled after a maximum inspiration.