Now that you were given the opportunity to determine your own lung capacity, you should be able to draw some conclusions. If you compare your measured lung capacity with your calculated lung capacity...

• Girls: height in centimeters x 20 = vital capacity in milliliters
• Boys: height in centimeters x 23 = vital capacity in milliliters

...you should recognize that we normally do not make full use of our lungs' ability to exchange air with the outside air. To prevent the lungs from collapsing, some air must remain in them at all times.

After comparing your lung capacity results with other students, you should be able to determine various factors that can affect lung capacity, such as the sex of the individual, height, and exercise. The age of a person as well as smoking also has a big affect on one's lung capacity.

Links to other related sites:

Learn how to test your lung capacity by using a balloon!



What is Considered to be Good Lung Capacity?




How Smoking Affects Lung Capacity



Lung Diseases (that can affect lung capacity)




About Your Lungs: Lung Animations and Interactives