VPB 121: Veterinary Physiology - II (2+1)

TYPES OF BREATHING

• There are two types of breathing: abdominal and coastal.
  • Abdominal breathing is characterized by visible movements of the abdomen, Nor­mally in animals the abdominal type of breathing pre­dominates.
  • The coastal breathing is characterized by pronounced rib movements. During painful conditions of the abdomen, such as peritonitis, in which movement of the viscera would aggravate the pain, coastal breathing can predominate. Sim­ilarly, during painful conditions of the thorax, such as pleuritis, abdominal breathing will be more apparent.
• Eupnea is the normal quiet breathing, with no devi­ation in frequency or depth.
• Dyspnea is diffi­cult breathing, in which visible effort is required to breathe. The animal is conscious of this state.
• Hyperpnea refers to breathing characterized by increased depth, frequency, or both after severe exercise. The animal is not actually conscious of this state.
• Polypnea is rapid, shallow breathing, similar to panting. Polypnea is similar to hyperpnea in frequency, but not in depth.
• Apnea refers to a cessation of breathing.