Biology of Breathing

Respiration is rhythmic contraction and expansion of the body that results in airflow in and out of the lungs. Normal inhalation time is about 40% of the total cycle length, and exhalation is about 60%. Breathing includes slight pauses or holds at the end of inhalation (about 3-5%) and at the end of exhalation (5-10%), when the flow reverses. The total cycle length determines the respiration rate per minute or cycles per minute (CPM). CPM can vary from low frequencies typically 3-6 CPM to high frequencies of 16-24 CPM. The tidal volume is a measure of breathing that is the amount of air that flows in and out of the lungs it also is variable.

The action of air passing in and out of the lungs is called ventilation. Both oxygen and carbon dioxide are essential for aerobic metabolism and exchange in the lungs via diffusion. At the end of expiration, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the expired air almost equals the venous concentration, but oxygen concentration is higher in inspired air than in venous blood. Normally minute ventilation is regulated automatically on the basis of the requirement for gas exchange. Both CPM and tidal volume need to be considered when calculating the amount of air movement. There is dead air space in the throat, trachea, and bronchi and the tidal volume must be large enough to overcome this in order for effective ventilation to occur. Under resting conditions about two-thirds of the volume changes are achieved by the diaphragm. The diaphragm moves downward, pressing on the abdominal cavity, and it lifts the lower ribs, which elevate sideways and in an anterior direction. Intercostal muscles, abdominal muscles, and the pelvic floor are also involved in respiration.

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