The

Me
cha
Bre n
ath ics O
in g f
Breathing
 Breathing
 Breathing is a process that all aerobic organisms must fulfill, breathing exchanges gases between an environment and the
organism. The requirement of oxygen required in cellular respiration is met by breathing, the product of cellular respiration is
ATP (energy) and carbon dioxide, the carbon dioxide needs to be expelled and more oxygen is required, this is were
breathing comes in.
 Breathing
ItAfter
Breathing
travels
thethrough
air
begins
enters
the
whenthe
pharynx,
abronchi
person
past
and
inhales
the
splits
larynx,
orinto
takes
the
andabronchiole,
enters
breathethe
in.trachea,
travelling
Air enters
the
through
through
trachea
until
the
splits
the
nostrils
of
airinto
reaches
andthetravels
left
theand
through
right
alveoli,
bronchi.
the
were
nasal
the air
passage.
diffuses into capillaries, and carbon dioxide diffuses out.
 The Mechanics
When a breathe of air is either inhaled
or exhaled there are various muscles
that either relax or contract.

-Inhaling/Inspiration occurs when the

intercostal muscles along with the
diaphragm contract, the intercostal
muscles lift the ribs and sternum,
causing the lungs to expand, the
contraction of the diaphragm opens up
the thoracic cavity, this whole process
causes the lungs to become a low
pressure environment, and thus the
environmental pressure outside is
higher. In response the high air pressure
rushes into the lungs equalizing the
pressure.
-Exhaling/Expiration is basically the
opposite of inhaling. Exhaling occurs with
the lungs are full of air, and the
intercostalmuscles along with the
diaphragm begins to relax, the diaphragm
fills in the thoracic cavity, putting pressure
on the lungs, making them a high pressure
environment, thus the air is forced out, and
the process repeats.