útöndun

útöndun is a term used in Hungarian to refer to the act of exhaling, i.e., the expiratory part of breathing. In modern medical and everyday Hungarian, the standard term for this process is kilégzés. útöndun appears mainly in older or more literary contexts, and in some regional or scholarly writings as a synonym or variant of kilégzés. Because of its rarity in contemporary usage, precise definitions of útöndun can vary, and many contemporary sources simply treat it as an archaic or stylistic alternative for exhalation.

Physiological overview: Exhalation is the phase of respiration during which air leaves the lungs. In a resting state, exhalation is largely passive, driven by the elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, with the diaphragm relaxing and the intercostal muscles returning to a resting position. During forced or active exhalation—such as during vigorous exercise, singing, or certain clinical breathing techniques— abdominal muscles and internal intercostal muscles may contract to push air more rapidly out of the airways. The rate and pattern of exhalation influence airway resistance, gas exchange efficiency, and overall ventilation.

Context and applications: Understanding exhalation is essential in fields such as medicine, sports science, and speech or music training. In clinical practice, expiratory flow and volumes are measured in spirometry to assess lung function. In singing or wind instrument performance, controlled exhalation is a key skill for tone, endurance, and phrasing. The term útöndun, while recognized, is less commonly used in contemporary Hungarian texts, which prefer kilégzés for clarity.

See also: kilégzés, belégzés, respiration, pulmonary function.