Total Lung Capacity (also known as Lung Capacity, Total, Capacities, Total Lung): The volume of air contained in the lungs at the end of a maximal inspiration. It is the equivalent to each of the following sums: VITAL CAPACITY plus RESIDUAL VOLUME; INSPIRATORY CAPACITY plus FUNCTIONAL RESIDUAL CAPACITY; TIDAL VOLUME pl

NIH MeSH · D014109Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment

Total Lung Capacity

Also known asLung Capacity, Total · Capacities, Total Lung · Capacity, Total Lung · Lung Capacities, Total · Total Lung Capacities

Definition

The volume of air contained in the lungs at the end of a maximal inspiration. It is the equivalent to each of the following sums: VITAL CAPACITY plus RESIDUAL VOLUME; INSPIRATORY CAPACITY plus FUNCTIONAL RESIDUAL CAPACITY; TIDAL VOLUME plus INSPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME plus functional residual capacity; or tidal volume plus inspiratory reserve volume plus EXPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME plus residual volume.

MeSH classification

  • E01.370.386.700.485.750
  • G09.772.850

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Common questions about Total Lung Capacity

What does Total Lung Capacity mean in medicine?
The volume of air contained in the lungs at the end of a maximal inspiration. It is the equivalent to each of the following sums: VITAL CAPACITY plus RESIDUAL VOLUME; INSPIRATORY CAPACITY plus FUNCTIONAL RESIDUAL CAPACITY; TIDAL VOLUME plus INSPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME plus functional residual capacity; or tidal volume plus inspiratory reserve volume plus EXPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME plus residual volume. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Total Lung Capacity known by any other names?
Yes. Total Lung Capacity is also referred to as Lung Capacity, Total, Capacities, Total Lung, Capacity, Total Lung, Lung Capacities, Total in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Total Lung Capacity sit in the medical classification?
Total Lung Capacity falls under the broader medical category "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: E01.370.386.700.485.750, G09.772.850). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Total Lung Capacity?
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Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D014109) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗