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Although physiologic respiration is necessary to sustain cellular respiration and thus life in animals, the processes are distinct: cellular respiration takes place in individual cells of the organism, while physiologic respiration concerns the diffusion and transport of metabolites between the organism and the external environment.
Real-time magnetic resonance imaging of the human thorax during breathing X-ray video of a female American alligator while breathing. Breathing (spiration [1] or ventilation) is the rhythmical process of moving air into and out of the lungs to facilitate gas exchange with the internal environment, mostly to flush out carbon dioxide and bring in oxygen.
The diaphragm is the main muscle of respiration and functions in breathing. During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and moves in the inferior direction, enlarging the volume of the thoracic cavity and reducing intra-thoracic pressure (the external intercostal muscles also participate in this enlargement), forcing the lungs to expand.
In humans and other mammals, the anatomy of a typical respiratory system is the respiratory tract.The tract is divided into an upper and a lower respiratory tract.The upper tract includes the nose, nasal cavities, sinuses, pharynx and the part of the larynx above the vocal folds.
Diagram showing expiration. Exhalation (or expiration) is the flow of the breath out of an organism. In animals, it is the movement of air from the lungs out of the airways, to the external environment during breathing.
This is achieved by the muscles of respiration, through the contraction of the diaphragm, and the intercostal muscles which pull the rib cage upwards as shown in the diagram. [72] During breathing out the muscles relax, returning the lungs to their resting position. [73]
The muscles of respiration are the muscles that contribute to inhalation and exhalation, by aiding in the expansion and contraction of the thoracic cavity. The diaphragm and, to a lesser extent, the intercostal muscles drive respiration during quiet breathing. The elasticity of these muscles is crucial to the health of the respiratory system ...