Vital Lung Capacity – Voice Science

Definition

Vital capacity (VC) measures the maximum volume of air that can be voluntarily moved in or out of the lungs—the difference between a full inhalation and a complete exhalation. Typical adult values range from 4.8–6.0 liters in males and 3.2–4.5 liters in females. John Hutchinson coined the term “capacity for life” when he invented the spirometer in 1846, recognizing VC as the most functionally significant respiratory measurement. Mathematically, VC equals Total Lung Capacity minus Residual Volume.

Context

Relevance to Voice Production

Vital capacity serves as the primary metric for describing lung volume utilization during singing. Professional classical singers initiate phrases at 70–100% VC and often extend to 20–30% VC at phrase termination (Thomasson and Sundberg, 1997). This wide excursion—using most of the available vital capacity—characterizes classical technique and enables the sustained phrases typical of operatic repertoire. 

Genre significantly affects VC utilization patterns. Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) styles generally stay closer to conversational breathing patterns—professional country singers, for example, use 55–65% VC for both speaking and singing (Cleveland, 1994). Over-inhaling beyond what a phrase requires can create tension and interfere with stylistic goals in non-classical genres.

Historical Development

John Hutchinson (1811–1861) established vital capacity as a measurable parameter by systematically collecting data from 2,130 individuals, creating the first normative respiratory data. His spirometer design and terminology remain foundational to pulmonary medicine and voice science today.

Scientific Basis

Vital capacity can be measured directly via standard spirometry, making it the most accessible of the major lung volume measurements (unlike Total Lung Capacity or Residual Volume, which require body plethysmography or gas dilution methods). 

VC varies substantially based on: 

• Sex: Males demonstrate 20–30% higher values than females of equivalent height
• Age: Lung function peaks at approximately 20 years in females and 25 years in males, then declines as [[Residual Volume]] increases
• Height: Taller individuals have proportionally larger lung volumes
• Body composition: Obesity and certain postural conditions can restrict thoracic expansion 

The American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society provide standardized measurement protocols and reference equations adjusted for age, sex, height, and ethnicity (Graham et al., 2019).

Pedagogical Considerations

Research consistently demonstrates that trained singers do not possess larger vital capacities than non-singers when corrected for body size. Rather, training improves the efficiency of VC utilization. Gould and Okamura (1973) found that trained singers showed lower RV/TLC ratios that improved with training duration, indicating they could access more of their total lung capacity for phonation. 

No established minimum VC threshold exists for professional singing. The evidence suggests that breathing coordination and efficiency matter more than absolute volume—trained classical singers achieve equivalent or superior acoustic output with lower mean airflow rates than untrained individuals (Salomoni, van den Hoorn, and Hodges, 2016).

Related Terms

Also known as: VC, Capacity for life (historical)

See also: Lung Capacity (parent concept), Residual Volume (air that cannot be expelled), Spirometry (measurement method)

References

Cleveland, Thomas F. 1994. “Respiratory Function during Speaking and Singing in Professional Country Singers.” Journal of Voice 8(3): 251–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0892-1997(96)80017-8.

Gould, Wilbur J., and Hiromitsu Okamura. 1973. “Static Lung Volumes in Singers.” Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology 82(1): 89–95. https://doi.org/10.1177/000348947308200118.

Graham, Brian L., et al. 2019. “Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update: An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement.” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 200(8): e70–e88. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201908-1590ST.

Kouri, Adamo, et al. 2021. “Exploring the 175-Year History of Spirometry and the Vital Lessons It Can Teach Us Today.” European Respiratory Review 30(162): 210081. https://doi.org/10.1183/16000617.0081-2021.

Salomoni, Sauro, Wolbert van den Hoorn, and Paul Hodges. 2016. “Breathing and Singing: Objective Characterization of Breathing Patterns in Classical Singers.” PLoS ONE 11(5): e0155084. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0155084.

Thomasson, Margareta, and Johan Sundberg. 1997. “Lung Volume Levels in Professional Classical Singing.” Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology 22(2): 61–70. https://doi.org/10.3109/14015439709075318.