Figure 1From: Bench-to-bedside review: Chest wall elastance in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome patientsEffect of different lung elastance (EL) and chest wall elastance (Ew) on the total elastance (Etot) of the respiratory system. An equal total elastance of the respiratory system may arise (a) from a high lung elastance and a low chest wall elastance or (b) from identical lung elastance and chest wall elastance.Back to article page