Atmen

Atmen is a German term with primary meanings tied to respiration. As a verb, atmen means to breathe; the corresponding noun form das Atmen refers to the act or process of breathing. The word appears in compound forms such as Einatmen (inhalation) and Ausatmen (exhalation). While most often encountered in German-language texts, the term also appears in English-language discussions when translating or quoting German sources.

Physiology: Breathing is produced by the respiratory system, mainly the lungs and the diaphragm. During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and moves downward, enlarging the thoracic cavity and drawing air into the lungs. Exhalation is largely a passive process driven by elastic recoil. In the lungs, oxygen is transferred to the blood and carbon dioxide is released. Breathing rate is regulated by the brainstem, with voluntary control under higher brain influence. The process supports cellular respiration and energy production.

Clinical and cultural aspects: Breathing patterns vary with activity, emotion, and altitude. Abnormal breathing can indicate illness, such as tachypnea (rapid breathing), dyspnea (difficulty breathing), or apnea (absence of breathing). Breathing exercises, including paced breathing and methods from pulmonary rehabilitation or yoga, are used to improve ventilation and reduce symptoms in various conditions.

Other uses: Outside German linguistic contexts, atmen as a capitalized term is rare and typically encountered as a transliteration or proper noun in glossaries or titles. For general reference, Atmen most commonly refers to the German verb or noun related to respiration.