What is the process of moving air in and out of the lungs called?

The process of moving air in and out of the lungs is known as ventilation. This term encompasses both inhalation (bringing air into the lungs) and exhalation (pushing air out of the lungs), making it a comprehensive description of the respiratory process. Ventilation is crucial for maintaining the proper exchange of gases in the body, allowing oxygen to enter the bloodstream and carbon dioxide to be expelled.

Oxygenation refers specifically to the process of adding oxygen to the blood, which occurs after ventilation has taken place. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide moving between the alveoli and blood, but it does not describe the process of air moving in and out of the lungs. Inspiration is part of the ventilation process, specifically referring to the act of inhaling air, but it does not encompass the full cycle of ventilation, which includes both inhalation and exhalation.