Section IV. The Respiratory System

This section was written following fruitful discussions with my colleagues Jens Ingeman Jensen, Joop Madsen, Ole Siggaard-Andersen and stud. med. Margrethe Lynggaard.

The respiratory process is the exchange of air between the atmosphere and the tissues. The process encompasses the ventilation of the lung alveoli, the diffusion of gasses between the alveolar air and the blood, the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the cells, and the regulation of alveolar ventilation and cardiac output.