Question

The residual volume is 

A. The gas remaining in the lungs at the end of a full expiration. 

B. Greater on average in men than in women. 

C. 3–4 litres on average in young adults. 

D. Measured directly using a spirometer. 

E. Smaller in old than in young people.

Answer 1

A. True This is its definition. 

B. True Men, on average, have bigger thoracic cages than women. 

C. False It is around 1–1.5 litres 

D. False Residual air cannot be exhaled; it is measured indirectly by a dilution technique. 

E. False It increases with age since the elastic recoil of the lungs decreases with age.