Question

What is the difference between ventilation and respiration?

Answer 1

Ventilation is the process of air moving in and out of the lungs, it refers to two things: Inspiration and Expiration. Inspiration is when air moves into the lungs, caused by the pressure difference created by a contract diaphragm. Expiration occurs when the diaphragm relaxes and air is pushed back out of the lungs.

Respiration refers to the gas exchange(oxygen and carbon dioxide) process that occurs inside the lungs. Again, there are two types: external (exchange at lungs-capillaries) and internal (exchange in systemic circulation).

So in summary, they are two different, but related processes. Ventilation facilitates respiration since oxygen/carbon dioxide have to be imported/exported from/to the environment.