ademing

Ademing is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for breathing or respiration, referring to the physiological process by which organisms exchange gases with their environment. In humans and other air-breathing vertebrates, ademing encompasses ventilation (movement of air into and out of the lungs), pulmonary gas exchange (oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide elimination), and cellular respiration (use of oxygen to produce metabolic energy).

Ventilation is produced by the coordinated action of the diaphragm, intercostal muscles and accessory respiratory muscles, creating pressure changes that move air through the airways. Gas exchange occurs across the alveolar-capillary membrane where oxygen diffuses into the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses out. The efficiency of these processes depends on lung structure, airway patency, blood flow, and the matching of ventilation and perfusion.

Control of ademing is primarily automatic, mediated by brainstem respiratory centers that respond to chemical signals (carbon dioxide, oxygen, pH) and input from mechanoreceptors and higher brain centers. Voluntary modulation is possible for speech, singing and certain practices.

Ademing is measured clinically by parameters such as respiratory rate, tidal volume, and lung function tests (spirometry), and is central to the assessment of respiratory health. Disorders affecting ademing include obstructive and restrictive lung diseases, sleep-related breathing disorders, and neuromuscular conditions that impair respiratory mechanics. Breath-focused techniques feature in many therapeutic and cultural practices, including relaxation, meditation and rehabilitative breathing exercises, where they are used to influence physiological and psychological states.