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Respiratory Volumes & Capacities — NEET Biology MCQs with Solutions

Free NEET Biology Respiratory Volumes & Capacities MCQs with step-by-step solutions (40 questions). Part of Breathing and Exchange of Gases. Practise online on Prepizo — no login needed.

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Questions with solutions

Q1 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · easy · theory
The volume of air inspired or expired during a normal quiet breath (about 500 mL) is the:
A. Vital capacity
B. Residual volume
C. Tidal volume (TV)  ✓ Correct
D. Inspiratory reserve volume
Solution: Tidal volume (~500 mL) is the air moved per normal breath.
Q2 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · easy · theory
The volume of air remaining in the lungs even after a forcible expiration is the:
A. Inspiratory reserve volume
B. Residual volume (RV)  ✓ Correct
C. Tidal volume
D. Expiratory reserve volume
Solution: Residual volume (~1100–1200 mL) cannot be expelled and keeps the alveoli inflated.
Q3 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium · theory
Vital capacity (VC) is the sum of:
A. ERV + TV + IRV (the maximum air that can be breathed out after maximum inspiration)  ✓ Correct
B. IRV + RV
C. TV + RV
D. RV + ERV
Solution: Vital capacity = ERV + TV + IRV — the maximum volume exchangeable with maximal effort.
Q4 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium · theory
The total lung capacity is the sum of the vital capacity and the:
A. Inspiratory reserve volume
B. Residual volume  ✓ Correct
C. Expiratory reserve volume
D. Tidal volume
Solution: Total lung capacity = VC + RV (total air the lungs can hold at maximum inflation).
Q5 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · hard · theory
Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) — the volume of air remaining in the lungs after a normal expiration — equals:
A. VC + RV
B. ERV + RV  ✓ Correct
C. IRV + ERV
D. TV + IRV
Solution: FRC = Expiratory Reserve Volume + Residual Volume.
Q6 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · hard · theory
Inspiratory Capacity (IC), the total volume a person can inspire after a normal expiration, is:
A. ERV + RV
B. IRV + RV
C. TV + ERV
D. TV + IRV  ✓ Correct
Solution: Inspiratory Capacity = Tidal Volume + Inspiratory Reserve Volume.
Q7 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · easy · numerical
The additional volume of air a person can inspire by a forcible inspiration, over and above the normal tidal volume, is called the:
A. Expiratory Reserve Volume
B. Residual Volume
C. Inspiratory Reserve Volume  ✓ Correct
D. Tidal Volume
Solution: Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV, about 2500-3000 mL) is the extra air breathed in by a forced inspiration beyond a normal tidal inspiration.
Q8 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · easy · numerical
The additional volume of air that can be breathed out by a forcible expiration after a normal expiration is the:
A. Residual Volume
B. Inspiratory Reserve Volume
C. Vital Capacity
D. Expiratory Reserve Volume  ✓ Correct
Solution: Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV, about 1000-1100 mL) is the extra air forcibly exhaled beyond a normal (tidal) expiration.
Q9 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · easy · numerical
Expiratory Capacity (EC) is the total volume of air a person can expire after a normal inspiration. If tidal volume is 500 mL and expiratory reserve volume is 1000 mL, EC equals:
A. 2500 mL
B. 1000 mL
C. 1500 mL  ✓ Correct
D. 500 mL
Solution: EC = TV + ERV = 500 + 1000 = 1500 mL.
Q10 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · easy · numerical
The total lung capacity of a normal adult human is approximately:
A. 1200 mL
B. 3000 mL
C. 6000 mL  ✓ Correct
D. 500 mL
Solution: Total Lung Capacity (VC + RV) is about 6000 mL, the total air the lungs can hold after a maximum inspiration.
Q11 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium · numerical
For a person with TV = 500 mL, IRV = 2500 mL, ERV = 1000 mL and RV = 1200 mL, the Vital Capacity is:
A. 5200 mL
B. 4000 mL  ✓ Correct
C. 2200 mL
D. 3000 mL
Solution: Vital Capacity = ERV + TV + IRV = 1000 + 500 + 2500 = 4000 mL (residual volume is not included).
Q12 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium · numerical
Using TV = 500 mL, IRV = 2500 mL, ERV = 1000 mL and RV = 1200 mL, the Total Lung Capacity is:
A. 2200 mL
B. 6200 mL
C. 4000 mL
D. 5200 mL  ✓ Correct
Solution: TLC = VC + RV = (500 + 2500 + 1000) + 1200 = 4000 + 1200 = 5200 mL.
Q13 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium · numerical
Inspiratory Capacity (IC) is the total volume of air a person can inspire after a normal expiration. If TV = 500 mL and IRV = 2500 mL, IC equals:
A. 2000 mL
B. 3500 mL
C. 2500 mL
D. 3000 mL  ✓ Correct
Solution: IC = TV + IRV = 500 + 2500 = 3000 mL.
Q14 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium · numerical
Functional Residual Capacity is the air remaining in the lungs after a normal expiration. If ERV = 1100 mL and RV = 1200 mL, FRC equals:
A. 1200 mL
B. 2300 mL  ✓ Correct
C. 1100 mL
D. 3400 mL
Solution: FRC = ERV + RV = 1100 + 1200 = 2300 mL.
Q15 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium · numerical
Which of the following cannot be measured directly using a simple spirometer?
A. Tidal Volume
B. Vital Capacity
C. Inspiratory Reserve Volume
D. Residual Volume  ✓ Correct
Solution: Residual Volume is the air that always remains in the lungs and can never be exhaled, so it (and any capacity that includes it) cannot be measured by ordinary spirometry.
Q16 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium · numerical
Match the capacities with their components: (i) Vital Capacity (ii) Functional Residual Capacity (iii) Inspiratory Capacity (iv) Expiratory Capacity — with (p) ERV + RV (q) TV + IRV (r) TV + ERV (s) ERV + TV + IRV.
A. i-p, ii-s, iii-q, iv-r
B. i-q, ii-p, iii-s, iv-r
C. i-s, ii-p, iii-q, iv-r  ✓ Correct
D. i-s, ii-p, iii-r, iv-q
Solution: VC = ERV + TV + IRV; FRC = ERV + RV; IC = TV + IRV; EC = TV + ERV.
Q17 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium
Match the following – Column A: 1. Tidal volume; 2. Residual volume; 3. Expiratory reserve volume; 4. Inspiratory reserve volume; 5. Inspiratory capacity; 6. Vital capacity Column B: A. Tidal volume and inspiratory reserve volume and expiratory reserve volume; B. Additional amount of air inhaled beyond tidal volume when taking a very deep breath; C. Amount of air remaining in lungs after expiratory reserve volume is expelled; D. Tidal volume and inspiratory reserve volume; E. Volume of air in one breath; F. Amount of air exhaled in forced exhalation
A. 1-C, 2-E, 3-B, 4-F, 5-D, 6-A
B. 1-E, 2-C, 3-B, 4-F, 5-A, 6-D
C. 1-E, 2-C, 3-F, 4-B, 5-D, 6-A  ✓ Correct
D. 1-E, 2-F, 3-C, 4-B, 5-A, 6-D
Solution: Tidal volume-E, Residual volume-C, ERV-F, IRV-B, Inspiratory capacity(TV+IRV)-D, Vital capacity(TV+IRV+ERV)-A.
Q18 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium
Match the following – Column A: 1. Tidal volume; 2. Inspiratory reserve volume; 3. Expiratory reserve volume; 4. Residual volume; 5. Vital Capacity Column B: A. 2500-3000 mL of air; B. 1000 mL of air; C. 500 mL of air; D. 3400-4800 mL of air; E. 1200 mL of air
A. 1-C, 2-A, 3-D, 4-E, 5-B
B. 1-C, 2-D, 3-B, 4-A, 5-E
C. 1-E, 2-A, 3-B, 4-E, 5-D
D. 1-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-E, 5-D  ✓ Correct
Solution: TV=500 mL (C), IRV=2500-3000 mL (A), ERV=1000 mL (B), RV=1200 mL (E), Vital Capacity=3400-4800 mL (D).
Q19 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium
Arrange the following in the order of increasing volume. 1. Tidal volume 2. Residual volume 3. Expiratory reserve volume 4. Vital capacity
A. 1 < 4 < 2 < 3
B. 1 < 3 < 2 < 4  ✓ Correct
C. 1 < 4 < 3 < 2
D. 1 < 2 < 3 < 4
Solution: TV (~500 mL) < ERV (~1000-1100 mL) < RV (~1100-1200 mL) < Vital capacity (~3400-4800 mL), i.e. 1 < 3 < 2 < 4.
Q20 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium
Different respiratory volumes are given below- I. Tidal Volume = 500 ml II. Residual Volume = 1000 ml III. Inspiratory Reserve Volume = 2500 ml IV. Expiratory Reserve Volume = 1000 ml The functional residual capacity (FRC) is
A. 2000 ml  ✓ Correct
B. 600 ml
C. 3500 ml
D. 3000 ml
Solution: FRC = ERV + RV = 1000 + 1000 = 2000 ml.
Q21 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · easy
Expiratory capacity is equal to
A. ERV + RV
B. TV + ERV  ✓ Correct
C. ERV + RV
D. ERV + IRV
Solution: Expiratory capacity = Tidal volume + Expiratory reserve volume (TV + ERV).
Q22 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium
A spirometer cannot be used to measure
A. ERV
B. RV  ✓ Correct
C. IC
D. IRV
Solution: Residual volume (RV) cannot be measured by a spirometer since this air always remains in the lungs and is never exhaled.
Q23 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · easy
The maximum volume of air you can forcefully exhale after taking the deepest possible breath is called
A. Total respiratory volume
B. Tidal volume
C. Residual volume
D. Vital capacity  ✓ Correct
Solution: Vital capacity is the maximum volume of air that can be forcefully exhaled after the deepest possible inspiration.
Q24 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium
Listed below are four respiratory capacities (i to iv) and four jumbled respiratory volumes of a normal human adult. Respiratory capacities: (i) Residual volume, (ii) Vital capacity, (iii) Inspiratory reserve volume, (iv) Inspiratory capacity. Respiratory volumes (jumbled): 2500 mL, 3500 mL, 1200 mL, 4500 mL. Which one of the following is the correct matching of two capacities and volumes?
A. (i) 4500 mL, (ii) 3500 mL
B. (iii) 1200 mL, (iv) 2500 mL
C. (ii) 2500 mL, (iii) 4500 mL
D. (iv) 3500 mL, (i) 1200 mL  ✓ Correct
Solution: Residual volume is about 1200 mL and inspiratory capacity is about 3500 mL, so the pairing (iv) 3500 mL and (i) 1200 mL is correct.
Q25 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium
A person breathes in some volume of air by forced inspiration after having a forced expiration. This quantity of air taken in is
A. Inspiratory capacity
B. Total lung capacity
C. Vital capacity  ✓ Correct
D. Tidal volume
Solution: The maximum air inspired after a forced expiration is the vital capacity (ERV + TV + IRV).
Q26 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · easy
In breathing movements, air volume can be estimated by
A. Spirometer.  ✓ Correct
B. Sphygmomanometer
C. Stethoscope
D. Hygrometer
Solution: A spirometer measures the volumes of air moved during breathing.
Q27 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · hard
From the following relationships between respiratory volumes and capacities, mark the correct option. (i) Inspiratory Capacity (IC) = Tidal Volume + Residual Volume; (ii) Vital Capacity (VC) = Tidal Volume (TV) + Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV) + Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV); (iii) Residual Volume (RV) = Vital Capacity (VC) - Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV); (iv) Tidal Volume (TV) = Inspiratory Capacity (IC) - Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV)
A. (i) Incorrect, (ii) Correct, (iii) Incorrect, (iv) Correct  ✓ Correct
B. (i) Correct, (ii) Incorrect, (iii) Correct, (iv) Incorrect
C. (i) Incorrect, (ii) Incorrect, (iii) Incorrect, (iv) Correct
D. (i) Correct, (ii) Correct, (iii) Incorrect, (iv) Correct
Solution: IC = TV + IRV (not RV) so (i) is incorrect; VC = TV + IRV + ERV so (ii) is correct; RV is unrelated to VC-IRV so (iii) is incorrect; TV = IC - IRV so (iv) is correct.
Q28 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · easy
Assertion (A): A healthy human breathes 12-16 times per minute. Reason (R): The volume of air involved in breathing can be estimated using a barometer.
A. A is true but R is false.  ✓ Correct
B. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
C. Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
D. A is false but R is true.
Solution: The normal breathing rate is 12-16 per minute (A true), but respiratory volumes are measured with a spirometer, not a barometer (R false).
Q29 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium
Assertion (A): Tidal Volume (TV) for a healthy man is approximately 6000 to 8000 mL per minute. Reason (R): TV is the volume of air inspired or expired during normal respiration.
A. A is true but R is false.
B. Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
C. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
D. A is false but R is true.  ✓ Correct
Solution: Tidal volume is about 500 mL per breath (6000-8000 mL/min is pulmonary ventilation), so A is false while the definition in R is true.
Q30 — Respiratory Volumes & Capacities · medium
Assertion (A): Vital Capacity (VC) is higher than Tidal Volume (TV). Reason (R): VC includes ERV, TV, and IRV.
A. A is true but R is false.
B. A is false but R is true.
C. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.  ✓ Correct
D. Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
Solution: VC equals ERV + TV + IRV, so it necessarily exceeds TV, meaning R correctly explains A.