inhalation

(noun)

The substance (medicament) which is inhaled.

Related Terms

Examples of inhalation in the following topics:

  • The Mechanics of Human Breathing

    • Both inhalation and exhalation depend on pressure gradients between the lungs and atmosphere, as well as the muscles in the thoracic cavity.
    • During the process of inhalation, the lung volume expands as a result of the contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles (the muscles that are connected to the rib cage), thus expanding the thoracic cavity.
    • This pressure gradient between the atmosphere and the thoracic cavity allows air to rush into the lungs; inhalation occurs.
    • The lungs, chest wall, and diaphragm are all involved in respiration, both (a) inhalation and (b) expiration.

  • Anthrax

    • Anthrax commonly infects wild and domesticated herbivorous mammals that ingest or inhale the spores while grazing.
    • By inhaling contaminated air containing anthrax spores.
    • This is known as inhalation anthrax or pulmonary anthrax and can cause serious, sometimes lethal respiratory disease.
    • In possible cases of inhalation anthrax, early antibiotic prophylaxis treatment is crucial to prevent possible death.
    • Discuss the causes and mode of transmission for anthrax including: inhalation, ingestion and direct entry through abrasions

  • Lung Volumes and Capacities

    • Volume measures the amount of air for one function (such as inhalation or exhalation) and capacity is any two or more volumes (for example, how much can be inhaled from the end of a maximal exhalation).
    • Conversely, the inspiratory reserve volume (IRV) is the additional amount of air that can be inhaled after a normal inhalation.
    • The vital capacity (VC) measures the maximum amount of air that can be inhaled or exhaled during a respiratory cycle.
    • The inspiratory capacity (IC) is the amount of air that can be inhaled after the end of a normal expiration.
    • Tidal volume is the volume of air inhaled in a single, normal breath.

  • Legionellosis

    • Legionella transmission occurs via aerosols and infection occurs when upon inhalation of the bacteria.
    • After being inhaled, the bacteria infect the macrophages of the alveolar and exploit the host machinery to create an environment that promotes bacterial replication.
    • The bacteria can become suspended in water droplets which are then inhaled into the lungs.

  • Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation: Compliance of the Lungs

    • Low lung compliance can be the result of interstitial lung diseases resulting from the inhalation of particulate substances such as asbestos (asbestosis) and silicon (silicosis).
    • Measurements of lung volumes differ at the same pressure between inhalation and exhalation, meaning that lung compliance differs between inhalation and exhalation.
    • Pulmonary fibrosis is caused by many different types of inhalation exposures, such as silica dust.

  • Asthma

    • Treatment of acute symptoms is usually with an inhaled short-acting beta-2 agonist (such as salbutamol).
    • Symptoms can be prevented by avoiding triggers such as allergens and irritants and by inhaling corticosteroids.
    • Signs which occur during an asthma attack include the use of accessory muscles of respiration (sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles of the neck), there may be a paradoxical pulse (a pulse that is weaker during inhalation and stronger during exhalation), and over-inflation of the chest.
    • If mild persistent disease is present (more than two attacks a week), low-dose inhaled glucocorticoids or alternatively, an oral leukotriene antagonist or a mast cell stabilizer is recommended.
    • For those who suffer daily attacks, a higher dose of inhaled glucocorticoid is used.

  • The Respiratory System and Direct Diffusion

    • How often a breath is taken and how much air is inhaled or exhaled are tightly regulated by the respiratory center in the brain.
    • A respiratory cycle consists of an inhalation and an exhalation: with every normal inhalation, oxygenated air fills the lungs, while with every exhalation, deoxygenated air rushes back out.

  • Inspiration

    • Inspiration refers to inhalation, and is the flow of the respiratory current into an organism.
    • These muscles are referred to as accessory muscles of inhalation.
    • Therefore they should not be used as the primary  mechanism of inhalation, because they take in much less air compared to the diaphragm resulting in a much lower tidal volume.

  • Blastomycosis

    • Infection occurs by inhalation of the fungus from its natural soil habitat.
    • Once inhaled in the lungs, Blastomycosis multiply and may disseminate through the blood and lymphatics to other organs, including the skin, bone, genitourinary tract, and brain.

  • Types of Breathing

    • During inhalation, the lungs expand with air and oxygen diffuses across the lung's surface, entering the bloodstream.
    • Oxygenated air, taken in during inhalation, diffuses across the surface of the lungs into the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood into the lungs and is expelled during exhalation.
    • Animation of a diaphragm exhaling and inhaling, demonstrating diaphragmatic breathing.
    • During inhalation, the diaphragm is contracted which increases the volume of the lung cavity.