Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment

Work of Breathing

RESPIRATORY MUSCLE contraction during INHALATION. The work is accomplished in three phases: LUNG COMPLIANCE work, that required to expand the LUNGS against its elastic forces; tissue resistance work, that required to overcome the viscosity of the lung and chest wall structures; and AIRWAY RESISTANCE work, that required to overcome airway resistance during the movement of air into the lungs. Work of breathing does not refer to expiration, which is entirely a passive process caused by elastic recoil of the lung and chest cage. (Guyton, Textbook of Medical Physiology, 8th ed, p406)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

RESPIRATORY MUSCLE contraction during INHALATION. The work is accomplished in three phases: LUNG COMPLIANCE work, that required to expand the LUNGS against its elastic forces; tissue resistance work, that required to overcome the viscosity of the lung and chest wall structures; and AIRWAY RESISTANCE work, that required to overcome airway resistance during the movement of air into the lungs. Work of breathing does not refer to expiration, which is entirely a passive process caused by elastic recoil of the lung and chest cage. (Guyton, Textbook of Medical Physiology, 8th ed, p406)

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Classification

Broader headings

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

2 entry terms
  • Breathing Work
  • Breathing Works

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

6 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings drug effects, ethics, genetics, immunology, physiology, radiation effects.

MeSH Record

History Note

72(71)

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Respiration (1966-1970)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. E01w.370.386.700w.975w
  2. G09.772.965w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WF 102

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Work of Breathing. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D014939. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D014939
  2. Work of Breathing. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_of_breathing
  3. Work of Breathing. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23808249