What is the flow of gases into and out of the alveoli called?

The flow of gases into and out of the alveoli is referred to as ventilation. This process is crucial for maintaining adequate gas exchange in the lungs, allowing oxygen to enter the bloodstream and carbon dioxide to be expelled from the body. Ventilation involves the mechanical activity of breathing, which includes inhalation (bringing air into the alveoli) and exhalation (expelling air from the alveoli).

In this context, while diffusion describes the process of gases moving across the alveolar membrane into the blood and vice versa, it does not encompass the entire process of gas movement associated with breathing. Perfusion refers to the flow of blood to the alveolar capillaries and is vital for gas exchange, but it is distinct from the mechanism of airflow itself. Respiration can refer to both the physiological process of gas exchange at the cellular level and the overall process of breathing, yet in this question, the specific term that identifies the movement of air into and out of the alveoli is ventilation.