Question

What morphometric factors would/could affect vital capacity?

If vital capacity was reduced, but tidal volume remained the same for an individual, how would it affect them? Would they notice at rest? If not, why not, and when might they notice the VC reduction?

Can I get some help with these questions?

Answer 1

Answer :)

Morphometric factors affect lung volumes/capacities significantly. These factors are age, gender, height, weight, and ethnicity, altitude, physical activity, and others.

Vital capacity is the total of the tidal volume, expiratory reserve volume, and inspiratory reserve volume. The tidal volume is important to measure and the maintenance of ventilation by lungs. Therefore, if tidal volume remains constant through, the lungs will efficiently ventilate the air. However, the vital capacity is reduced, it may due to changes in any reserve volumes. Therefore, the lungs are facing abnormalities such as in COPD patients.

At rest, a person with reduced vital capacity may not experience any problem, because there the less oxygen is required in the body. During any activity, these people would have trouble breathing because their body is not getting enough oxygen. Then they would notice the reduction in vital capacity.