For any given age and body surface area, men have a greater MVV than women. Give one anatomic or physiologic reason why.

Is it because men tend to be more stronger and athletic than women, thus allowing respiratory muscles to be stronger

Men are larger than women, thus more respiratory volume is needed to sustain that mass. It takes work (ie respiration leads to energy consumption) to support that mass.

The reason why men usually have a greater Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) than women, even when accounting for age and body surface area, can be attributed to a combination of anatomical and physiological factors.

One of the anatomical factors is that men tend to have larger lung volumes compared to women. This is primarily due to differences in body size and dimensions. Men generally have a larger thoracic cavity and larger lung volumes, which allow them to take in more air during each breath. This larger lung volume contributes to a greater MVV in men.

Physiologically, men also tend to have stronger respiratory muscles compared to women. This can be attributed to various factors, including differences in muscle mass and hormonal influences. Testosterone, for example, is a hormone that promotes muscle growth, and men naturally have higher levels of testosterone than women. Stronger respiratory muscles allow men to generate more force and exert greater effort during respiration, resulting in a higher MVV.

It is important to note that while there are general trends and differences between men and women, there is also significant individual variation. There are women who have higher MVV than men, just as there are men with lower MVV than women. Therefore, it is essential to consider these factors as potential influences on MVV, while also recognizing the impact of individual variations.