Which type of apnea involves a temporary cessation of breathing for at least 10 seconds?

The type of apnea that involves a temporary cessation of breathing for at least 10 seconds can indeed apply to all the listed types: obstructive apnea, central apnea, and mixed apnea.

Obstructive apnea occurs when there is a physical blockage of the upper airway, leading to periods where breathing stops despite efforts to breathe. This blockage can occur in various forms, such as the collapse of soft tissues in the throat.

Central apnea, on the other hand, is caused by a failure of the brain to send appropriate signals to the muscles that control breathing. In this case, the brain essentially doesn't instruct the body to breathe, resulting in a cessation of airflow for at least 10 seconds.

Mixed apnea is a combination of both obstructive and central mechanisms; it starts with central apnea but may progress to obstructive apnea when airway blockage occurs after the brain fails to initiate breathing.

Since each type of apnea can lead to the same characteristic of a temporary cessation of breathing lasting for at least 10 seconds, the correct understanding encompasses all three types as fulfilling the criteria mentioned in the question.