Respiratory system - The steps involved in breathing

7 important questions on Respiratory system - The steps involved in breathing

What is boyle's law and what effect does it have on respiration?

As the thorax expands, pressure with in the lung falls below atmospheric pressure.

because the volume of the lungs increased, air pressure in the atmosphere is higher than the pressure in the lungs. Air then wants to move into the aread of low pressure until no difference exists.

Pulmonary ventilation is dependent on what three tyeps of pressue?

Atmospheric pressure

Intra-aveolar pressure

Intrapleuaral pressure - is the pressure in the pleural cavity which is between the chest and the lung

At rest (in relation to breathing) what is the diaphragm doing? What is happening with air flow and what is the pressure like in the aveolar?

Diaphragm is relaxed, avelor pressure is equal to atmospheric pressure, and there is no air flow.
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What happens in the lungs and in the surrounding muscles when inhaling.

The diaphragm contracts and the external intercostals contract. The chest cavity expands and the aveolar pressure drops below atmospheric pressue. Air flows into the lungs in response to the reduction in pressure and the lung volume expands.

During deep inhalation the scalene and sternocleidomastoid muslces expand the chest further, thereby creating a greater drop in aveolar pressure.

What happens in the lungs and surrounding muscles during exhalation?

The diaphragm and external intercostals relax. Chest and lung recoil, the chest cavity contracts and the aveolar pressure increases above atmospheric pressure. Air flows out of the lungs due to pressure and the lung volume decreases.

During forced exhalations, the internal intercostal and abdominal muslces contract, thereby reducing the size of teh the chest cavity furhter creating a greater increase in aveolar pressure.

What is the highlighted muscle called.

sternocliedomastoid

Label the sternocliedomastoid, diaphragm, external intercostals and the scalene

Please refer to picture.

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