Final Scientific Paper
Effects of Gender, Athleticism, and Measurement Position on Vital Capacity of College-aged Students
Caleb Campbell
Principles of Biology- Laboratory Section A
4/22/2014
Abstract
Vital capacity is defined as the amount of air that can be forcibly expelled from the lungs following breathing in as deeply as possible. The purpose of this study was to see if position of measurement, gender, and athleticism affected vital capacity. This experiment was conducted on 46 college-aged students using a wet spirometer in standing and sitting positions. Each student self-reported their age, and whether or not they were an athlete or a smoker. Measurements of each individual’s chest circumference, and height were recorded. The experiment showed that both gender and athleticism affected vital capacity and that the position the measurement was taken from did not have an effect on vital capacity. These results show that factors other than disease do have an effect on vital capacity.
Introduction
Vital capacity is defined as the maximum volume of air that can be expired from the lungs during a relaxed, but complete from a position of full inspiration (Booker 2013). It has been recognized that healthy individuals vary considerably in the volume of air which they can expire after a full inspiration. Age, sex, height, weight, the size and flexibility of the chest, muscular strength and physical training are factors which may singly or jointly affect the vital capacity (West 1920). Spirometry measures airflow from fully inflated lungs over time in liters (Petty 2002).
The purpose of this study was to determine if vital capacity is affected by any of the following factors: gender, athlete or non-athlete, and position of measurement. It was hypothesized that each of these factors would have an effect on vital capacity.
Materials and Methods
Measurements were taken from 46 Slippery Rock University Principles of Biology Students of laboratory sections A and B. Of the 46
Caleb Campbell
Principles of Biology- Laboratory Section A
4/22/2014
Abstract
Vital capacity is defined as the amount of air that can be forcibly expelled from the lungs following breathing in as deeply as possible. The purpose of this study was to see if position of measurement, gender, and athleticism affected vital capacity. This experiment was conducted on 46 college-aged students using a wet spirometer in standing and sitting positions. Each student self-reported their age, and whether or not they were an athlete or a smoker. Measurements of each individual’s chest circumference, and height were recorded. The experiment showed that both gender and athleticism affected vital capacity and that the position the measurement was taken from did not have an effect on vital capacity. These results show that factors other than disease do have an effect on vital capacity.
Introduction
Vital capacity is defined as the maximum volume of air that can be expired from the lungs during a relaxed, but complete from a position of full inspiration (Booker 2013). It has been recognized that healthy individuals vary considerably in the volume of air which they can expire after a full inspiration. Age, sex, height, weight, the size and flexibility of the chest, muscular strength and physical training are factors which may singly or jointly affect the vital capacity (West 1920). Spirometry measures airflow from fully inflated lungs over time in liters (Petty 2002).
The purpose of this study was to determine if vital capacity is affected by any of the following factors: gender, athlete or non-athlete, and position of measurement. It was hypothesized that each of these factors would have an effect on vital capacity.
Materials and Methods
Measurements were taken from 46 Slippery Rock University Principles of Biology Students of laboratory sections A and B. Of the 46