Inspiratory Reserve Volume – The amount of air that can be breathed in after normal inhalation
(Pronounced in-spi-ruh-teree)
In order to remember what inspiratory reserve volume is, it will be necessary to break the words down to their different part meanings as follows:
1. We know that spira means breathing.
Spira = Breathing
2. So inspira refers to breathing in.
3. In this context, reserve refers to an additional supply. For example a pilot with an additional reserve fuel tank for their plane. This would not be used unless called upon on a long journey.
4. Reserve volume therefore refers to the additional volume of air.
So if we combine inspiratory reserve volume we get:
Breathing in, additional volume of air.
In other words inspiratory reserve volume means:
The amount of additional air that can be breathed in on top of normal breathing.
The amount of air that can be forcibly inhaled beyond a tidal inhalation is about 3,000ml or 3 litres for men and 2,000ml or 2 litres for women.
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