Which of the following is true regarding the 'Minimal Volume' of the lungs?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: It is the air remaining if the lungs collapse (pneumothorax)
Minimal volume is the small amount of air (approx. 30-120 mL) that remains trapped in the alveoli even if the lungs are removed from the chest or collapse. Residual Volume, by contrast, is the volume held in the lungs by the chest wall at the end of a maximal expiration.
Keep practicing
More Lung Volumes and Capacities questions
- If a patient has a Total Lung Capacity of 6.0 L and a Functional Residual Capacity of 2.5 L, what is their Inspiratory Capacity?
- What happens to the physiological dead space in a patient with a pulmonary embolism?
- Which lung capacity represents the maximum volume of air that can be exhaled after a maximum inspiration?
- In an elderly individual, which of the following lung volume changes is typically seen due to the normal aging process?
- Alveolar ventilation ($V_A$) is a better measure of gas exchange than minute ventilation because it accounts for:
- Tidal volume refers to the volume of air that is: