Final answer:
The expiratory reserve volume (ERV) is the measurement that indicates the amount of air that can be quickly forced from the lungs, and it is a component of the vital capacity (VC), used in pulmonary function testing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The measurement taken to determine the amount of air that can be quickly forced from the lungs is known as the expiratory reserve volume (ERV). When a person forcefully exhales past the normal tidal expiration, the volume of air expelled is the ERV, which can be up to 1200 milliliters for men. It is one of several important respiratory volumes used to assess lung function. Other types of volumes such as tidal volume (TV), which is the amount of air inhaled during a normal breath, and inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), the additional air that can be inhaled with a deep breath, along with ERV, contribute to the calculation of various lung capacities like vital capacity (VC).
Vital capacity is the total amount of air a person can expel from the lungs after a maximal inhalation and is calculated as the sum of TV, ERV, and IRV. It is crucial in pulmonary function testing because it reflects the elasticity of the lungs and the strength of the respiratory muscles.