Inspiratory reserve volume = 11 mm
Expiratory reserve volume = 30 mm
The percentage of the vital capacity the tidal volume represents = 37%
Subject B (Male) Andy
Tidal volume – 4 units
Inspiratory reserve volume – 14 units
Expiratory reserve volume – 6 units
The percentage of the vital capacity the tidal volume represents – 20%
Subject C (male) cheese
Tidal Volume- 15mm
Inspiratory reserve volume- 35mm
Expiratory reserve volume – 45mm
The percentage of the vital capacity the tidal volume represents = 15.7%
From these we can see that Subject C has the biggest lung capacity, to work out this what we do is divide the tidal volume by the vital capacity then times by 100. for example Subject 1.5 / 9.5 = 0.1578 * 100 = 15.7 % the lower the percentage the bigger the lung capacity. Therefore we can see that subject C has the biggest lung capacity and subject A has the smallest lung capacity. But why are the reasons for people having different lung capacities? This is down to several factors: Physical exercise or fitness. People who exercise frequently usually have larger lung capacity than those who are primarily sedentary. As this makes the lungs more efficient at gas exchange (explained in first part) Lack of exercise is one of the risk factors that contributes to the development of heart and blood vessel disease. Reducing your risk of developing heart and blood vessel disease may be as simple as getting up and exercising a few times per week.
This can not be the only reason why subject C has the bigger lung capacity as both subject B & C take part in more physical exercise, in fact Subject B takes part in more exercise as he is part of a football academy where as subject C is just part of a Sunday rugby team. So what other factors affect lung capacity.
- Women tend to have 20 - 25% lower capacity than males. As the males lungs are bigger.
- Tall people tend to have a greater total lung capacity than shorter people.
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Heavy smokers generally have a drastically lower total lung capacity than non-smokers.
This explained why subject A, a female has the smallest lung capacity as she is female and smokes, where as subject B & C have bigger lung capacity as they are males and do not smoke. This is due to a loss of elasticity of the lungs and muscles of the chest wall. These changes decrease the ability to fight off infections. This still doesn’t explain why Subject C has a bigger lung capacity than subject B even though it is only 5%. As well as they are both similar height of about 5”9. Posture problems: rounded shoulders or slouching can lead to smaller lung capacity. This is because your vital organs are in the right position and can function at peak efficiency. Good posture helps contribute to the normal functioning of the nervous system. Without good posture, your overall health and total efficiency may be compromised. Because the long-term effects of poor posture can affect bodily systems (such as digestion, elimination, breathing, muscles, joints and ligaments), a person who has poor posture may often be tired or unable to work efficiently or move properly, as they are getting less oxygen. But this is hard to determine whether subject B is more sloughed than Subject C. But as the difference between Subject B & C is so little there are many factors but they are so little, therefore it can be hard to determine.
Bibliography:
BTEC national in sport exercise science Jennifer Stafford Brown, Simon Rea & John Chance, Hodder & Stoughton 2003.
Reference:
Biologymad.com
Thomsonlearning.com
Isc.org
Aic.cuhk.edu
Lung capacity
Pridemobility.com
Chriopractic.org
