In respiratory physiology, the process of exchange of air between the lungs and the ambient air. Pulmonary ventilation (usually measured in litres per minute) refers to the total exchange, whereas alveolar ventilation refers to the effective ventilation of the alveoli, in which gas exchange with the blood takes place.
In psychiatry, verbalization of one’s emotional problems.
In physiology, the movement of air into and out of the lungs, measured in liters per minute (lpm).
The act of breathing air in or out of the lungs, so removing waste products from the blood in exchange for oxygen.
Breathing; the process by which gases are moved into and out of the lungs.
A natural body function or a mechanical procedure that maintains the correct balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. Mechanical ventilation simulates human breathing with the use of a ventilator when a person is not able to breathe independently. This provides for the exchange of gases between the lungs and the surrounding air, keeping the oxygen level in the blood high and the carbon dioxide level low.
The passage of air into and out of the respiratory tract. The air that reaches only as far as the conducting airways cannot take part in gas exchange and is known as dead space ventilation; this may be reduced by performing a tracheostomy. In the air sacs of the lungs (alveoli) gas exchange is most efficient when matched by adequate blood flow (perfusion). Ventilation /perfusion imbalance (ventilation of under-perfused alveoli or perfusion of under-ventilated alveoli) is an important cause of ‘anoxia and cyanosis.
Utilizing a device known as a ventilator to assume control or provide support for the act of breathing. Breathing cessation or significant impairment can stem from causes such as head trauma, neurological conditions, excessive opioid drug consumption, thoracic trauma, respiratory ailments, nerve/muscle disorders, or significant chest/abdominal surgeries.
Ventilation might be required in cases where a muscle relaxant has been administered as a component of general anesthesia throughout a surgical procedure. Additionally, premature infants dealing with respiratory distress syndrome might necessitate ventilation temporarily until their lung capacity matures adequately. Positive pressure ventilation, involving the continuous delivery of air at elevated pressures, could also find application in home settings for managing sleep apnea—a condition characterized by momentary breathing interruptions during sleep.