Which abbreviation refers to total lung capacity?

The abbreviation that refers to total lung capacity is TLC. Total lung capacity is a key respiratory measurement that represents the maximum amount of air the lungs can hold after a deep inhalation, encompassing all lung volumes—the tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume, expiratory reserve volume, and residual volume. Understanding total lung capacity is crucial for assessing respiratory function and identifying conditions such as restrictive lung disease or obstructive diseases.

Other abbreviations such as TLV (which generally refers to threshold limit value, not lung capacity), VC (vital capacity, which is the maximum amount of air a person can exhale after maximum inhalation), and RC (residual capacity, which refers to the amount of air remaining in the lungs after a normal exhalation) do not capture the complete volume of air within the lungs, which is why TLC is the correct choice in this context.