An exhalation valve arrangement for an exhalation line of a ventilation apparatus for artificial ventilation of patients, the exhalation valve arrangement being flowthrough-capable in an exhalation flow direction and encompassing: - an upstream respiratory gas conduit that extends along a first conduit path and is connected or connectable to a portion, coming from the patient, of the exhalation line; - a downstream respiratory gas conduit that extends along a second conduit path and is connected or connectable to a respiratory gas sink; - a valve subassembly which comprises a valve body and a valve seat and which is provided between the upstream and the downstream respiratory gas conduit (14, 16) in such a way that, in the context of a predetermined first respiratory gas overpressure in the upstream respiratory gas conduit relative to the downstream respiratory gas conduit, it permits an exhalatory respiratory gas flow from the upstream respiratory gas conduit into the downstream respiratory gas conduit; and in the context of a predetermined second respiratory gas overpressure in the downstream respiratory gas conduit relative to the upstream respiratory gas conduit, it blocks a gas flow from the downstream respiratory gas conduit into the upstream respiratory gas conduit, there being provided in the downstream respiratory gas conduit, radially inside the conduit wall that radially externally delimits the downstream respiratory gas conduit, a flow resistance configuration that, at the location where it is arranged, decreases the flow cross section of the downstream respiratory gas conduit compared with the same downstream respiratory gas conduit without a flow resistance configuration, wherein the cross sectional area of the downstream respiratory gas conduit, through which exhalatory respiratory gas can flow, at a location under consideration of the downstream respiratory gas conduit is reduced to a value of 20 % to 30 % of the flowthrough-capable cross sectional area of the downstream respiratory gas conduit of the same exhalation valve arrangement without the flow resistance configuration, wherein the flow resistance configuration divides the flowthrough-capable cross section of the downstream respiratory gas conduit into no more than five partial cross sections physically separated from one another; and/or the flow resistance configuration decreases the flowthrough-capable cross section of the downstream respiratory gas conduit along the second conduit path over a length of not less than 5 mm. - an upstream respiratory gas conduit that extends along a first conduit path and is connected or connectable to a portion, coming from the patient, of the exhalation line; - a downstream respiratory gas conduit that extends along a second conduit path and is connected or connectable to a respiratory gas sink; - a valve subassembly which comprises a valve body and a valve seat and which is provided between the upstream and the downstream respiratory gas conduit (14, 16) in such a way that, in the context of a predetermined first respiratory gas overpressure in the upstream respiratory gas conduit relative to the downstream respiratory gas conduit, it permits an exhalatory respiratory gas flow from the upstream respiratory gas conduit into the downstream respiratory gas conduit; and in the context of a predetermined second respiratory gas overpressure in the downstream respiratory gas conduit relative to the upstream respiratory gas conduit, it blocks a gas flow from the downstream respiratory gas conduit into the upstream respiratory gas conduit, wherein the cross sectional area of the downstream respiratory gas conduit, through which exhalatory respiratory gas can flow, at a location under consideration of the downstream respiratory gas conduit is reduced to a value of 20 % to 30 % of the flowthrough-capable cross sectional area of the downstream respiratory gas conduit of the same exhalation valve arrangement without the flow resistance configuration, wherein the flow resistance configuration divides the flowthrough-capable cross section of the downstream respiratory gas conduit into no more than five partial cross sections physically separated from one another; and/or the flow resistance configuration decreases the flowthrough-capable cross section of the downstream respiratory gas conduit along the second conduit path over a length of not less than 5 mm.