Question

Can residual volume be greater than the tidal volume?

Answer 1

Tidal volume:

1. The tidal volume of air is the air that is normally inhaled or exhaled by a person in a respiratory cycle without any effort.
2. It is about 500ml in humans.

Residual volume:

1. Residual volume is the amount of air that remains in the lungs even after a forcible exhalation.
2. It is about 1100-1200ml in humans.

Therefore residual volume is always greater than tidal volume.