Ventilation (physiology)

Ventilation is the technical term for the ventilation of the lungs during respiration. This should be done as evenly as possible to distribute ideally the breath in all alveoli, supply the body with enough oxygen, even under load range before surfacing and metabolic products such as carbon dioxide.

Ventilating the lung sacs (alveoli ) is called alveolar ventilation and substantially corresponds to the tidal volume minus the so-called dead space volume (as the remaining at maximum exhalation breath in the lung ). Because the alveoli even at this maximum exhalation not collapse (except lack of surfactant for respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn ) is always replaced only a part of the alveolar volume by fresh air per breath. This share is specified as a so-called ventilation coefficient.

Tidal volume, dead space ventilation, and other variables are determined by spirometry and (rarely ) Lungenventilationsszintigraphie and provide information about the performance of the lungs, called pulmonary function.

In the obstructive ventilation disorders - are distinguished from restrictive ventilatory disorders, see also respiratory insufficiency.

The specific ventilation is determined as an indication of lung function, taking into account the absorption of oxygen, the number of ventilation for the evaluation in consideration of the release of carbon dioxide.

For a one-sided ventilation can occur (in the context of emergency care or induction of anesthesia ) as a result of endobronchial intubation as so-called misintubation. The diagnosis can be made by auscultation, when in the non-ventilated lung ventilation, the absence of noise is detected. The risk of such Fehlintubationen is given especially in children ( due to the short trachea ).