What is the amount of air a person can expel from the lungs after a maximum inspiration?

The correct answer is vital capacity, which refers to the total amount of air that can be exhaled after taking a deep breath. It is a crucial measurement in respiratory physiology that encompasses the maximum amount of air that can be expelled from the lungs following the deepest inhalation possible. Vital capacity is divided into several components, such as tidal volume, expiratory reserve volume, and inspiratory reserve volume.

Understanding vital capacity is important because it reflects the functional status of the lungs and indicates the lung's ability to accommodate and expel air effectively. It provides insight into respiratory health and can be used in assessments to diagnose conditions that affect lung function.

In this context, tidal volume refers to the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a normal breath, functional residual capacity pertains to the volume of air remaining in the lungs after a normal exhalation, and inspiratory reserve volume is the additional air that can be inhaled after a normal inspiration. While all these terms relate to lung capacity, they do not represent the total air expelled after maximum inspiration, which is specifically defined as vital capacity.