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Tidal Volume
Free study guide for medical students and educators
~2 min readLast reviewed 2026-02-23
Also known as:Vttidal vol
Tidal Volume (TV or VT) is the volume of air moved in or out of the lungs during a single normal breath. It represents the difference between the volume of air in the lungs at the end of inspiration and at the end of expiration during quiet breathing.
- IBW (Ideal Body Weight) for men: 50 + 2.3 × (height in inches - 60)
- IBW for women: 45.5 + 2.3 × (height in inches - 60)
- ARDS Net protocol: 6 mL/kg IBW to minimize barotrauma
- Dead space is ~2 mL/kg or ~150 mL in adults
⚡At a Glance
Normal value500 mL (6-8 mL/kg ideal body weight)
Calculation6-8 mL/kg × ideal body weight
Key pearlIBW (Ideal Body Weight) for men: 50 + 2.3 × (height in inches - 60)
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Related Conditions
📚 References & Sources
- 1West JB. Respiratory Physiology: The Essentials, 10th ed.
- 2ARDS Network. Ventilation with Lower Tidal Volumes. N Engl J Med. 2000
Credits
EnterMedSchool Team(Author)