Final answer:
Tidal volume is the amount of air involved in normal quiet breathing, which is about 500 mL. It is distinct from inspiratory reserve, expiratory reserve, and residual volumes, which are related to deeper inhalation, forced exhalation, and air remaining after exhalation, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The volume of air moved into and out of the lungs during normal quiet breathing is known as tidal volume (TV), and it is approximately 500 mL of air. This is in contrast to other respiratory volumes such as inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), which is the amount of air that can be inhaled past the tidal volume during a deep breath, and expiratory reserve volume (ERV), the additional air that can be exhaled forcefully after a normal tidal expiration. Another key term is residual volume (RV), which is the air remaining in the lungs after a forceful exhalation to prevent the alveoli from collapsing.