Vital Capacity

We tested our vital capacity earlier this week and I can store up to 2800 cc or 2.8 L. I am happy with this result, as 2.7 L is the average for a 17 year old girl. Vital capacity is what it is depending on how much we use our lungs. Some of the highest vital capacities out of the girls were from those in band; the band kids had higher lung capacities because they have conditioned and strengthened their lungs. A usual breath consists of 500 mL. The reason we do not exhale our entire vital capacity each time is to conserve energy; it would be exhausting to force out all the air each time we need to exhale. The purpose of exhaling is to rid the body of carbon dioxide to prevent our blood from becoming toxic. Breathing is meant to be an autonomic process to allow us to concentrate on other things. Activities such as playing a sport or an instrument are beneficial to our lungs because it allows them to become stronger. The lungs are like any other muscle in our body, they become stronger the more they are exercised.