The normal vital capacity for a 70-kg man is approximately which value?

The normal vital capacity for a 70-kg man is approximately which value?

• A. 1 L
• B. 2 L
• C. 5 L
• D. 7 L

Answer: (C)

Vital capacity is the total amount of air a person can exhale after a maximum inhalation, and in healthy adults it scales with body size. For men, a commonly used estimate is about 65–75 mL per kilogram. A 70-kg man would then have a VC of roughly 4.5–5.2 L, with about 5 L being the typical value. Therefore, approximately five liters is the normal vital capacity for this individual. Values like 1 L or 2 L are far too low for a healthy adult of this size, while 7 L would be unusually large for a 70-kg man.

Vital capacity is the total amount of air a person can exhale after a maximum inhalation, and in healthy adults it scales with body size. For men, a commonly used estimate is about 65–75 mL per kilogram. A 70-kg man would then have a VC of roughly 4.5–5.2 L, with about 5 L being the typical value. Therefore, approximately five liters is the normal vital capacity for this individual. Values like 1 L or 2 L are far too low for a healthy adult of this size, while 7 L would be unusually large for a 70-kg man.