Ademtocht

Ademtocht is a Dutch noun that denotes the passage through which air moves during breathing. The term is formed from adem (breath) and tocht (journey or passage). In modern medical language it is relatively uncommon; more standard terms are ademweg or luchtweg, which refer to the airway in a clinical sense.

In everyday usage, ademtocht can be understood as the route or channel for air, and in anatomical contexts it is often considered a less precise, more poetic alternative to ademweg or luchtweg. The concept encompasses the airway from the entry points of the nose or mouth through the subsequent structures that conduct air to the lungs.

Anatomically, the airway begins at the nasal cavity or oral cavity and passes through the pharynx and larynx, continuing as the trachea and the branching bronchi and bronchioles before terminating in the alveolar regions where gas exchange occurs. The airway is lined with a mucous membrane and cilia that help filter, warm, and humidify inspired air.

Clinical relevance revolves around conditions that affect the ademtocht or airway, such as obstruction, infections, inflammation, and diseases like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Diagnosis and assessment commonly employ methods that target the airway, including spirometry and imaging, to evaluate airflow and respiratory function.

See also: Luchtweg, Ademhaling, Respiratory system.