capacity /ca·pac·i·ty/ (kah-pas´ĭ-te) the power to hold, retain, or contain, or the ability to absorb; usually expressed numerically as the measure of such ability.
Vital capacity (VC)
vital capacity (VC)
vital capacity,
capacity,
vital,
vital capacity
forced vital capacity (FVC) vital capacity measured when the patient is exhaling with maximal speed and effort.
functional residual capacity the amount of air remaining at the end of normal quiet respiration.
heat capacity the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a specific quantity of a substance by one degree Celsius. Symbol C.
inspiratory capacity the volume of gas that can be taken into the lungs in a full inhalation, starting from the resting inspiratory position; equal to the tidal volume plus the inspiratory reserve volume.
maximal breathing capacity maximum voluntary ventilation.
thermal capacity heat c.
total lung capacity the amount of gas contained in the lung at the end of a maximal inhalation. 
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Subdivisions of total lung capacity: TLC, total lung capacity; VT, tidal volume; IC, inspiratory capacity; FRC, functional residual capacity; ERV, expiratory reserve volume; VC, vital capacity; RV, residual volume.
virus neutralizing capacity the ability of a serum to inhibit the infectivity of a virus.
vital capacity VC; the volume of gas that can be expelled from the lungs from a position of full inspiration, with no limit to duration of inspiration; equal to inspiratory capacity plus expiratory reserve volume.
| vital capacity n. Abbr. VC The amount of air that can be forcibly expelled from the lungs following breathing in as deeply as possible. Also called respiratory capacity. |
Vital capacity (VC)
The largest amount of air expelled after one's deepest inhalation.
Mentioned in: Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
vital capacity (VC)
Etymology: L, vita, life, capacitas, capacity
the maximum volume of air that can be expelled at the normal rate of exhalation after a maximum inspiration, representing the greatest possible breathing capacity. The VC equals the inspiratory reserve volume plus the tidal volume plus the expiratory reserve volume. The average normal value of 4 to 5 L is affected by age, the physical dimensions of the chest cage, physical fitness, posture, and gender. The VC may be reduced by a decrease in the amount of functioning lung tissue resulting from atelectasis, edema, fibrosis, pneumonia, pulmonary resection, or tumors; by limited chest expansion resulting from ascites, chest deformity, neuromuscular disease, pneumothorax, or pregnancy; or by airway obstruction. Compare forced expiratory volume, forced expired vital capacity, residual volume.
vital capacity,
n the maximum amount of air that can be expelled following maximum inhalation, representing the maximum breathing capacity. Used to determine the condition of the lung function.
capacity,
n legal qualification, competency, power, or fitness.
capacity, functional residual,
n (normal capacity), the volume of gas in the lungs at resting expiratory level.
capacity, iron-binding,
n a measure of the binding capacity of iron in the serum; helps to differentiate the causes of hypoferremia. This capacity tends to increase in iron deficiency and diminishes in chronic diseases and during infection.
capacity, normal,
n See capacity, functional residual.
capacity, total lung (TLC),
n the volume of air in the lungs at the end of maximal inspiration.
capacity, vital (VC),
n the maximum volume of air that can be expired after maximal inspiration.
vital,
adj necessary to or pertaining to life.
vital capacity,
n a measurement of the amount of air that can be expelled at the normal rate of exhalation after a maximum inspiration, representing the greatest possible breathing capacity.
vital signs,
n.pl the measurements of pulse rate, respiration rate, and body temperature. Although not strictly a vital sign, blood pressure is also customarily included in this category.
vital statistics,
n.pl the data relating to births (natality), deaths (mortality), marriages, health, and disease (morbidity).
capacity
the power to hold, retain, or contain, or the ability to absorb; usually expressed numerically as the measure of such ability.
carrying capacity
see carrying capacity.
closing capacity (CC)
the volume of gas in the lungs at the time of airway closure. See also closing volume.
forced vital capacity
the maximal volume of gas that can be exhaled from full inspiration exhaling as forcefully and rapidly as possible. See also pulmonary function tests.
functional residual capacity
the amount of gas remaining at the end of normal quiet respiration.
heat capacity
thermal capacity.
inspiratory capacity
the volume of gas that can be taken into the lungs in a full inspiration, starting from the resting inspiratory position; equal to the tidal volume plus the inspiratory reserve volume.
maximal breathing capacity
maximal voluntary ventilation.
thermal capacity
the amount of heat absorbed by a body in being raised 1°C.
total lung capacity
the amount of gas contained in the lung at the end of a maximal inspiration.
virus neutralizing capacity
the ability of a serum to inhibit the infectivity of a virus.
vital capacity
the volume of gas that can be expelled from the lungs from a position of full inspiration, with no limit to duration of expiration; equal to inspiratory capacity plus expiratory reserve volume.
vital
pertaining to life; necessary to life.
vital capacity
the greatest volume of gas that, following maximum inspiration, can be expelled during a complete, slow, unforced expiratory maneuver; equal to inspiratory capacity plus expiratory reserve volume. This is a commonly made and practicable measurement in humans but is not so in animals.
vital red
dye injected into the circulation to estimate blood volume by calculating the concentration of the dye in the plasma.
vital signs
the signs of life, namely pulse, respiration and temperature.
vital statistics
that branch of biometry dealing with the data and laws of animal mortality, morbidity, natality and demography.
vital statistic rate
vital statistics presented as a proportion of a population, e.g. fetal deaths as a percentage of total births. Includes case fatality rate, nonreturn rate at 60 days.
vital capacity
Lung physiology The volume of air exhaled by a maxium expiration after a maxium inspiration. See Lung volumes. Cf Total lung capacity.
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