[Education of respiratory physiology in 2nd-year medicine: current challenges]

The author describes some of the challenges which face present day teaching in respiratory physiology. These are 1. poor integration with basic science, 2. non-homogeneity of units and nomenclature, and 3. insufficient integration with what is taught in the third year. The author is optimistic about problem-oriented teaching integrating the first 3 years of medical school as a single whole.