Elastic recoil

Elastic recoil is the rebound of the lungs after having been stretched by inhalation, or rather, the ease with which the lung rebounds. With inhalation, the interpleural pressure (the pressure within the pleural cavity) of the lungs decreases. Relaxing the diaphragm during expiration allows the lungs to recoil and regain the interpleural pressure experienced previously at rest. Elastic recoil is inversely related to lung compliance.