In humans, and other living things, the breathing is the process by which it is absorbed oxygen from the environment and gases are removed, particularly carbon dioxide. The main characteristic of respiration is said gas exchange.
Respiration can occur as external respiration (gas exchange between the atmosphere and the body) or as internal respiration (gas exchange within the body).
The inspiration, is one of the phases of respiration, specifically in which air is inhaled from the external environment to the interior of the organism, in order to get oxygen necessary to carry out metabolic processes.
On the other hand, during the expiration, the body releases waste gases, specifically the carbon dioxide.
Both, inspiration and expiration, are phases that represent complementary movements of respiration and that allow gas exchange to take place in a living being.
| Breathing | Inspiration | Expiration | |
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| Definition | It is the action by which an organism acquires oxygen from the environment and releases carbon dioxide, as a result of a metabolic and mechanical process. | It occurs when the air from the external environment of an organism is inhaled into the body, allowing the absorption of oxygen. | Also known as exhalation, it is the process by which the body expels carbon dioxide and other waste gases during respiration.. |
| Characteristics |
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| Main muscles involved | The diaphragm and intercostal muscles (involving other secondary muscle groups). |
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The breathing is the name given to the physical process by which an organism performs a exchange of different gases, carrying oxygen from the air to the lungs, and the lungs to the cells of the body, and getting rid of carbon dioxide from the tissues.
In particular, it is about transferring oxygen to the cells that use it to produce energy and get rid of waste gases when carrying out metabolic processes..
In humans and other living beings, respiration involves the exchange of gases, with the intention of endowing the body with the oxygen (ORtwo) necessary to survive, as well as the release of carbon dioxide (COtwo), which is a product of this process.
Respiration is divided into two parts or phases, these are inspiration and expiration, constituting a respiratory cycle. This cycle is possible thanks to respiratory mechanics, or the process carried out by different muscles.
Two main types of muscles are involved in the breathing process, the diaphragm muscles and the intercostal muscles. These allow air to enter the body.
The respiratory rate of an adult person is between 10-16 breaths per minute, while in children it is about 15-20 breaths per minute. Athletes and newborn babies have a higher respiratory rate, which can reach 60 breaths per minute.
In humans, external respiration consists of the exchange of gases between the body and the external environment, particularly oxygen and carbon dioxide. This type of breathing is also known as ventilation. During this process, the pulmonary alveoli transfer oxygen to the red blood cells..
External respiration includes other processes such as pulmonary ventilation, pulmonary gas diffusion, and gas transport. Different muscle groups participate in it and occurs thanks to the compliance of the lungs.
In the region of the rib cage, the external intercostal muscles make a movement that expands the rib cage to allow inspiration. During expiration, the internal intercostals are responsible for allowing the rib cage to close.
The diaphragm is the muscle that lies horizontally under the rib cage and performs an opening movement during inspiration..
Also known as compliance, is the ability of the lungs (in addition to the rib cage) to stretch and narrow during lung ventilation. Thanks to the fact that the lungs are able to modify their capacity, increasing their volume, the respiratory process can be carried out.
The Pulmonary ventilation consists of the process in which there is a gas flow in and out of the lung alveoli, allowing the exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide.
During pulmonary ventilation, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles are the main mechanisms that actively participate in the process that allows inspiration and expiration..
In the case of the lungs, they do not participate actively, but are able to adapt to the movement caused by the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, thanks to the pleural fluid and the fact that they can distend.
Pulmonary ventilation works thanks to the pressure of gases and the volume of a space.
According to boyle's law, developed by the natural chemist and philosopher Rober Boyle (1627-1691), there is a relationship between the volume of the space that a gas occupies and Pressure exercised by this. Basically, a gas has less pressure when it is in a larger volume space. In the same way, the pressure increases with the reduction of the volume of the space.
This happens because when there is a greater volume in a space, the molecules of a gas have greater freedom of movement. When the volume of the space is reduced, the gas molecules have less room to maneuver, being "tight" and without the same ability to move..
When the pressure of a gas increases inside a container, and the pressure outside it is lower, when this gas is released, an equilibrium point is reached between the exterior and interior space..
An example of the above can be seen when a soccer ball is fully “inflated”. The pressure inside can be felt, since the air inside the same occupies a small volume of space, creating more pressure, so the ball feels solid.
If this soccer ball were to suffer a puncture, the internal pressure, which is higher than atmospheric, would cause the air to leave the ball, until reaching a point of equilibrium. When the pressure is reduced, the balloon deflates, becoming "softer" and more malleable..
Atmospheric pressure is the pressure found in the atmosphere and represents the force that gases (air) exert on the earth's surface and objects that are in it. This pressure decreases with altitude, so the highest atmospheric pressure is at sea level.
Atmospheric pressure has a value of 760 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury), equivalent to one atmosphere, above sea level. We speak of a negative atmospheric pressure when it is below 760 mm Hg, and a positive atmospheric pressure, when it is above this figure..
Also known as intra-alveolar, intrapulmonary pressure is the air pressure in the alveoli. This reaches an equilibrium level with atmospheric pressure during the lung ventilation process. Thanks to the muscles of the body, intrapulmonary pressure varies, being negative or positive. This change in pressure allows gases to flow from the outside to the inside of the body and vice versa..
This pressure has the same value as atmospheric pressure.
Intrapleural pressure refers to the air pressure in the Pleural cavity. The pleurae are sacs or membranes that surround the lungs and protect them from contact with other organs, maintaining their proper functioning. The pressure is negative, relative to intrapulmonary pressure and atmospheric pressure, since the lungs contract when the rib cage expands.
Its value is variable, remaining at about -4 mm Hg with respect to intrapulmonary and atmospheric pressure.
Transpulmonary pressure is the difference that exists between intrapulmonary and intrapleural pressure, being that the higher the transpulmonary pressure, the greater the volume of the lung.
Gas diffusion or exchange occurs when the alveoli absorb oxygen that has reached the lungs. Capillaries release carbon dioxide found in the blood and receive oxygen.
This exchange occurs through the alveolus-capillary membrane or respiratory membrane..
Gas transport occurs when gas diffusion or exchange has occurred within the lungs. When the blood gets oxygen, it must be transported in order to allow it to be absorbed by cells.
The person in charge of carrying out this task is the Cardiovascular system, since it is the one that pumps the blood through the body. The blood that has received the oxygen goes to the heart and it pumps it to the rest of the body.
The oxygen is mostly transported together with the hemoglobin (Hb) through the bloodstream. The latter determines the oxygen transport capacity of the blood.
The carbon dioxide, Instead, it follows the reverse path of oxygen, and there are several ways in which it is removed. It can be transported together with hemoglobin (20% of the carbon dioxide present); dissolved with plasma (7%); or is transformed into bicarbonate ions (70%).
External respiration occurs at the moment when the red blood cells transfer the inspired oxygen to the cells, and the cells give up the carbon dioxide to the red blood cells. On the other hand, the internal breathing is the process in which there is an exchange of gases inside the body, specifically in the cells of the fabrics, after external breathing has been given.
During internal breathing, pressure allows a diffusion or osmosis process to be triggered. Since the pressure of oxygen varies depending on the environment, it is higher in the blood than in the tissue. That is why it is transferred from one medium to another, from the blood to the tissues.
During the inspiration, the air that is in the atmosphere enters the body, to carry oxygen to the body, through the lungs. Along with expiration, it is one of the two steps of respiration.
Inspiration is a active process and occurs when there is a contraction of the intercostal (external) muscles and a descent of the diaphragm. At that moment, the air enters the lungs, allowing the blood to be enriched with oxygen..
The expiration is the process in which a respiratory current is presented in which the carbon dioxide of the organism. It is one of the two phases of respiration, together with inspiration..
Occurs when the diaphragm rises and the internal intercostal muscles they relax, increasing the internal pressure. Expiration which is also known as exhalation and is a passive process. Once the diaphragm rises, and the rib cage contracts, carbon dioxide is removed from the body.
Expiration can be controlled / voluntary, or it can be involuntary / passive.
When the expiration is controlled, gases found in the lungs are voluntarily retained. This is produced with various objectives, and comes into operation when speaking activities are carried out, when singing or doing some specific type of sport, among others..
In the case of expiration involuntary, this is usually totally passive. It obeys the metabolic functions of the body. This type of expiration can occur, for example, during sleep.
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