CEA Nursing Practice Exam

What does "forced vital capacity" represent during a pulmonary function test?

1. Functional Reserve Capacity.

2. Forced Expiratory Volume over 1 second (FEV1).

3. Inspiratory Reserve.

4. Large inspiration followed by full exhalation.

The correct answer is: Large inspiration followed by full exhalation.

Forced vital capacity (FVC) during a pulmonary function test represents the total volume of air that can be forcefully exhaled after taking a deep breath. This measurement is critical in assessing lung function, especially in identifying conditions like obstructive or restrictive lung diseases. The process involves taking a large inspiration followed by a rapid and forceful exhalation until no more air can be expelled. This is particularly important because FVC provides insight into the mechanics of breathing and the mechanics of the lungs' ability to inflate and deflate fully. In contrast, options like functional reserve capacity or forced expiratory volume (FEV1) focus on different aspects of lung function. Functional reserve capacity refers to the air remaining in the lungs after a normal expiration, which does not measure the efficacy of complete exhalation as FVC does. The forced expiratory volume specifically measures the amount of air expelled in the first second of the forceful exhalation, which is different from the entirety of the exhalation captured in FVC. Inspiratory reserve pertains to the amount of air that can be inhaled after a normal inhalation, not related to the forced exhalation process reflected in FVC. Thus, the answer accurately summarizes the procedure