A cell membrane is also known as a plasma membrane or cytoplasmic membrane. The cell membrane separates the interior of a cell from its outside environment. The main function of a cell membrane is to protect the cell from its surroundings.
assisted ventilation. Definition: application of mechanically or manually generated positive pressure to gas(es) in or about the airway during inhalation as a means of augmenting the movement of gases into the lungs. Synonym(s): assisted respiration. Search Stedman's Medical Dictionary.
Mechanical ventilation is the use of a mechanical device (machine) to inflate and deflate the lungs. Mechanical ventilation provides the force needed to deliver air to the lungs in a patient whose own ventilatory abilities are diminished or lost. Breathing requires the movement of air into and out of the lungs. This is normally accomplished by the diaphragm and chest muscles. A variety of medical conditions can impair the ability of these muscles to accomplish this task, including: muscular dystrophies.