Difference Between Ventilation and Respiration

In human bodies, respiratory and cardiovascular systems work together but still at the same time both systems work independently and perform different duties. However many believe that ventilation and respiration are same terms related to the respiratory system. When air comes and goes out of lungs, this process is called ventilation and respiration means exchange of gases including oxygen and carbon dioxide. Both processes are essential to occur as respiratory and cardiovascular systems ensure that your lungs are working. The respiratory surface and lungs consume oxygen in the ventilation process while there are three phases involved in ventilation inspiration and expiration.

Instructions

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    Ventilation

    When air comes and goes out of the lungs it is called ventilation. This process is very essential for humans. If this process stops even for four to six minutes, it will cause serious brain damage. The human brain needs rich oxygenated blood at all time to function properly and the entire cardiovascular system provides this. This process is based on two phases. First is inspiration and second is expiration. In other words, you can also say inhale and exhale. When air moving into lungs is called inspiration while when air moves out of lungs is called expiration. Though these processes are different but they take place one after another. The ventilation process completes when one cycle of inspiration and expiration completes. The volume of air while flowing into lungs is different with various volumes. It is called ventilatory volume tidal volume. The number of ventilation cycles is judged at ventilation rate. The air volume into lungs depends on the amount of every individual’s level of activity. This process of ventilation facilitates the respiration process or basically the movement of air into the lungs.

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    Respiration

    Exchanging of gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide is called respiration. This process helps the respiratory surface in concentration gradient. After the exchange process, gases diffuse in the human body at a rapid pace. In humans or in-fact in mammals, you find two types of respiratory systems. First is internal and second one is external respiration. During the process, carbon dioxide and oxygen systematically circulate in the body. This unique process provides oxygen into cells and at the same time removes carbon dioxide from the body. It is crucial that carbon dioxide is removed from the body quickly as once it starts to build it up, it can cause serious effects in the human body. In respiration, respiratory surfaces including alveoli and blood capillary walls are involved.

    - Image Courtesy: intranet.tdmu.edu.ua

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