Related Concept Videos
Mechanical Ventilation II: Invasive Ventilation
Negative-Pressure Ventilators
Negative-pressure ventilators create a vacuum around the chest or body to draw air into the lungs, simulating breathing. This method does not require an...
Mechanical Ventilation I: Indication and Settings
Ventilatory Modes
There are three ventilatory modes: full support, partial support, and spontaneous. These are described below.
Full Support Modes
Full support modes include controlled mechanical ventilation, continuous mandatory...
Mechanical Ventilation III: Noninvasive Ventilation
Noninvasive Positive-Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV)
Alterations in Respiration II
In Biot's breathing, the respiratory rate and depth are irregular, alternating between periods of deep gasping and apnea. Common causes include...
Atelectasis II: Pathophysiology
You might also read
Related Articles
Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.
Eight Weeks of MitoQ Supplementation Does Not Alter Kidney Function or Urinary Kidney Injury Biomarkers in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.
Update: Is exercise-induced oxidative stress a friend or foe?
Skeletal muscle mitochondrial marker responses to a single bout and 6 weeks of high load versus high volume resistance training in previously trained men.
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

3D Cine Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Respiratory Motion in Mechanically Ventilated Mice and Rats
Published on: September 19, 2025
Prolonged mechanical ventilation alters diaphragmatic structure and function.
Scott K Powers1, Andreas N Kavazis, Sanford Levine
1Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. spowers@hhp.ufl.edu
Prolonged mechanical ventilation causes diaphragmatic atrophy and dysfunction, beginning within 18 hours. Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving this weakness is crucial for developing future therapies to preserve diaphragm health.
Area of Science:
- Critical care medicine
- Respiratory physiology
- Muscle biology
Background:
- Mechanical ventilation is essential for respiratory support but can negatively impact the diaphragm.
- Diaphragmatic dysfunction is a significant concern in critically ill patients requiring prolonged ventilator support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize current scientific understanding of how extended mechanical ventilation affects diaphragm function and biological processes.
- To identify key molecular pathways involved in ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing scientific literature.
Main Results:
- Mechanical ventilation, even for as short as 18 hours, induces diaphragmatic atrophy and contractile dysfunction in animal models and humans.
- Ventilator-induced diaphragmatic atrophy results from increased protein breakdown and reduced protein synthesis.
- Key proteases like calpain, caspase-3, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system are implicated in muscle protein degradation.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged mechanical ventilation leads to significant diaphragmatic atrophy and impaired function.
- Identifying the signaling pathways that activate proteases and inhibit protein synthesis is a critical future research direction.
- Future research into these mechanisms will inform the development of interventions to protect diaphragm mass and function during mechanical ventilation.

