The invention relates to a medical air mattress, having a mattress body (20) comprising multiple body air cells (21) and one or more independent air cells (23), positioned parallel to each other and arranged in a row to form air cell rows, the one or more independent air cells (23) are positioned between the body air cells (21) along a longitudinal axis of the mattress body (20). The air cells (21) are configured to be inflatable and/or deflatable by means of a pumping assembly (50) connected to said mattress body comprising a pump (51)； and a body cell pipeline connected between the pump (51) and the body air cells (21) and configured to enable fluid to flow between the pump (51) and the body air cells (21) and an independent pipeline (55) that is connected between the pump (51) and the one or more independent air cells (23), to independently control inflation and/or deflation of the one or more independent air cells (23) and the body air cells (21) so that the one or more independent air cells (23) are inflatable and/or deflatable independently from one or more of the body air cells (21), and wherein deflation of at least one of said one or more independent air cells (23) within a section of the mattress body (20) creates room to receive a container or bedpan for use by a patient lying on or above the mattress body (20). The invention also relates to a method of operating the control of the inflation and deflation of the air cells (21, 23).
