Rate of respiration : The rate of respiration is slightly quicker in women than in men. In normal breathing, expiration succeeds inspiration and is followed by a slight pause of Inspiration-expiration-pause. In sick babies, this order is sometimes reversed and the sequence

becomes : inspiration-pause-expiration. This is described as inverse breathing.

Normal rate per minute

In newly born → 40

At twelve months → 30

From two to five years → 24

In adults → 10-20