Final answer:
Respiratory volume refers to the different types of air volumes moved by or associated with the lungs during breathing. These include tidal, residual, inspiratory reserve, and expiratory reserve volumes. Each volume has a specific function and is important for understanding a person's respiratory health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Respiratory volume is the term used for various volumes of air moved by or associated with the lungs at a given point in the respiratory cycle. There are four major types of respiratory volumes: tidal, residual, inspiratory reserve, and expiratory reserve. Tidal volume (TV) is the amount of air that normally enters the lungs during quiet breathing, while residual volume (RV) is the air left in the lungs after exhaling as much air as possible. Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV) is the extra volume that can be brought into the lungs during a forced inspiration, and expiratory reserve volume (ERV) is the amount of air that can be forcefully exhaled past a normal tidal expiration.