Algonquin College Health Program Assessment (AC-HPAT) Practice Exam

After full inspiration, 'forced vital capacity' measures what?

1. The volume of air forcibly blown out

2. The total lung capacity

3. The amount of oxygen absorbed

4. The residual volume of air

The correct answer is: The volume of air forcibly blown out

'Forced vital capacity' measures the volume of air that is forcibly blown out after a full inspiration. This assessment is commonly used in pulmonary function tests to evaluate the strength and capacity of the lungs. During the forced vital capacity maneuver, an individual takes a deep breath in (full inspiration) and then exhales forcefully and completely. The volume of air they expel is indicative of their lung health and can help diagnose conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and restrictive lung diseases. The total lung capacity refers to the maximum amount of air the lungs can hold, which includes all volumes of air (inspiratory reserve, expiratory reserve, tidal volume, and residual volume), but this is not specifically what forced vital capacity measures. The forced vital capacity does not provide information about the amount of oxygen absorbed; that pertains to different measures of gas exchange in the lungs. Residual volume is the amount of air remaining in the lungs after a person has exhaled completely and is also not related to forced vital capacity, as this measurement focuses solely on the air expelled during the forced exhalation.