Which of the following best describes "apnea"?

Apnea is defined as a temporary cessation of breathing that lasts for a specified duration. In a clinical setting, it is typically characterized by an interruption of ventilation for a duration of 10 seconds or more. This definition is crucial for identifying various sleep-related breathing disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, where such interruptions can lead to significant physiological consequences.

The definition involving interruptions of less than 10 seconds does not meet the standard criteria for apnea and is more often associated with hypopneas or other forms of respiratory events. Prolonged shallow breathing is a different condition that does not imply a complete pause in the respiratory cycle, and thus does not qualify as apnea. Lastly, a normal breathing pattern is the opposite of apnea, as it does not involve any interruption or cessation. Thus, the correct characterization of apnea aligns explicitly with the criteria of lasting 10 seconds or more, making it the most accurate description in this context.