The mechanism of breathing
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Explainer Video
Summary
The mechanism of breathing
In a nutshell
Breathing is important as it enables air to flow into and out of the lungs. The process of breathing involves inhaling and exhaling. The amount of air that can fill the lungs is also known as lung volume. Lung volume can be measured with spirometry.
Breathing
To inhale is to breathe in and to exhale is to breathe out.
Inhaling | When you inhale, the diaphragm moves downwards and the ribcage moves upwards. This causes the volume of the chest cavity to increase. Increasing the volume of the chest cavity causes the pressure to decrease. This decrease in pressure results in the air rushing in to fill the lungs. |
Exhaling | When you exhale, the diaphragm moves upwards and the ribcage moves downwards. This causes the volume in the chest cavity to decrease. This decrease in volume results in an increase in pressure. As a result, increasing the pressure causes air to rush out of the lungs. |
Measuring lung volume
Definition
Lung volume is the amount of air that can be inhaled into the lungs in a single breath.
Lung volume can vary between different people.
Examples
Shorter people tend to have smaller lung volumes than taller people. People with conditions affecting the lungs may also have a reduced lung volume over time.
Spirometry
To measure lung volume, a machine called a spirometer is used. To use a spirometer, a person needs to breathe into a tube attached to a machine for a few minutes. The machine records the volume of air that is breathed in and out over time, and plots the results on a special graph called a spirogram.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
What happens during inhalation?
When you inhale, the diaphragm moves downwards and the ribcage moves upwards. This causes the volume of the chest cavity to increase. Increasing the volume of the chest cavity causes the pressure to decrease. This decrease in pressure results in the air rushing in to fill the lungs.
How can lung volume be measured?
To measure lung volume, a machine called a spirometer is used.
What does breathing involve?
The process of breathing involves inhaling and exhaling.