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For other uses, see Breathing (disambiguation).
"Breath" redirects here. For other uses, see Breath (disambiguation).

Breathing takes oxygen in and carbon dioxide out of the body. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single Aerobic organisms require oxygen to create energy via respiration, in the form of energy-rich molecules such as glucose. Cellular respiration is the set of the metabolic reactions and processes that take place in Organisms cells to convert biochemical energy from Cellular respiration is the set of the metabolic reactions and processes that take place in Organisms cells to convert biochemical energy from In Chemistry, a molecule is defined as a sufficiently stable electrically neutral group of at least two Atoms in a definite arrangement held together by Glucose (Glc a Monosaccharide (or simple Sugar) also known as grape sugar, is an important Carbohydrate in Biology. The medical term for normal relaxed breathing is eupnea.

Contents

Gas exchange

Breathing is only part of the processes of delivering oxygen to where it is needed in the body and removing carbon dioxide waste. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single The process of gas exchange occurs in the alveoli by passive diffusion of gases between the alveolar gas and the blood passing by in the lung capillaries. Gas exchange or respiration takes place at a respiratory surface—a boundary between the external environment and the interior of the body An alveolus (plural alveoli, from Latin alveolus, "little cavity" is an anatomical structure that has the form of a hollow cavity Passive transport means moving biochemicals and atomic or molecular substances across the Cell membrane. lung is the essential Respiration organ in air-breathing Animals including most Tetrapods a few Fish and a few Snails The most primitive Capillaries are the smallest of a body's Blood vessels measuring 5-10 μm in diameter which connect Arterioles and Venules and enable the interchange Once in the blood the heart powers the flow of dissolved gases around the body in the circulation. Blood is a specialized Bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's cells such as nutrients and oxygen—and transports Waste products The heart is a muscular organ in all Vertebrates responsible for pumping Blood through the Blood vessels by repeated rhythmic

As well as carbon dioxide, breathing also results in loss of water from the body. Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Exhaled air has a relative humidity of 100% because of water diffusing across the moist surface of breathing passages and alveoli. Relative humidity is a measurement of the amount of Water vapor that exists in a gaseous mixture of air and water

Mechanics

In mammals, breathing in, or inhaling, is usually an active movement, with the contraction of the diaphragm muscles needed. Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands For other types of diaphragm see Diaphragm. In the Anatomy of Mammals the thoracic diaphragm is a sheet of Muscle This is known as negative pressure breathing. The diaphragm's normal relaxed position is that of a recoiled one (decreasing the thoracic volume) whereas in the contracted position it is pulled downwards (increasing the thoracic volume). Relaxation of the diaphragm compresses the lungs, effectively decreasing their volume while increasing the pressure inside them. With a pathway to the mouth or nose clear, this increased pressure forces air out of the lungs by diffusion. Diffusion is the net movement of particles (typically molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration by uncoordinated random movement Conversely, contraction of the diagraphm increases the volume of the (partially empty) lungs, decreasing the pressure inside, which creates a partial vacuum. Environmental air then follows its concentration gradient down to fill the lungs. Diffusion is the net movement of particles (typically molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration by uncoordinated random movement

In amphibians, the process used is positive pressure breathing. Prehistoric amphibian Amphibians (class Amphibia such as Frogs Toads Salamanders Newts Gymnophiona, Sirens and Muscles lower the floor of the oral cavity, enlarging it and drawing in air through the nostrils (which uses the same mechanics - pressure, volume, and diffusion - as a mammalian lung). With the nostrils and mouth closed, the floor of the oral cavity is forced up, which forces air down the trachea into the lungs.

At rest, breathing out, or exhaling, is a combination of passive and active processes powered by the elastic recoil of the alveoli, similar to a deflating balloon, and the contraction of the muscular body wall. An alveolus (plural alveoli, from Latin alveolus, "little cavity" is an anatomical structure that has the form of a hollow cavity The following organs are used in respiration: the mouth; the nose and nostrils; the pharynx; the larynx; the trachea; the bronchi and bronchioles; the lungs; the diaphragm; and the terminal branches of the respiratory tree, such as the alveoli. The mouth, buccal cavity, or oral cavity is the first portion of the Alimentary canal that receives food and begins digestion by mechanically breaking up Anatomically a nose is a protuberance in Vertebrates that houses the Nostrils or nares which admit and expel air for respiration in conjunction with the The pharynx (plural pharynges) is the part of the Neck and Throat situated immediately Posterior to (behind the Mouth and Nasal The larynx (plural larynges) colloquially known as the voicebox, is an organ in the Neck of Mammals involved in protection of the The traceartes, or windpipe, is a tube that has an inner diameter of about 20-25 mm and a length of about 10-16 cm in humans A bronchus (plural bronchi, adjective bronchial) is a caliber of airway in the Respiratory tract that conducts air into the Lungs No Gas The bronchioles or bronchioli are the first Airway branches that no longer contain Cartilage. lung is the essential Respiration organ in air-breathing Animals including most Tetrapods a few Fish and a few Snails The most primitive The respiratory tree describes the branching structure of the Vertebrate Lung. An alveolus (plural alveoli, from Latin alveolus, "little cavity" is an anatomical structure that has the form of a hollow cavity

Control of breathing

Main article: Control of respiration

Breathing is one of the few bodily functions which, within limits, can be controlled both consciously and unconsciously. Control of ventilation ( control of respiration) refers to the physiological mechanisms involved in the control of physiologic ventilation.

Conscious control

Conscious attention to breathing is common in many forms of meditation, specifically anapana and other forms of yoga. Ānāpānasati ( Pali) meaning ' Mindfulness of Breathing ("sati" means mindfulness "ānāpāna" refers to inhalation and exhalation Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the In swimming, cardio fitness, speech or vocal training, one learns to discipline one's breathing, initially consciously but later sub-consciously, for purposes other than life support. Swimming is the movement by humans or animals through Water, usually without artificial assistance Cardio is the medical term used to reference the Heart. From Greek kardia: heart. Physical fitness is used in two close meanings general fitness (a state of Health and well-being and specific fitness (a task-oriented definition based on the ability Speech refers to the processes associated with the production and perception of Sounds used in Spoken language. In its most general sense discipline refers to systematic instruction given to a Disciple. Consciousness has been defined loosely as a constellation of attributes of Mind such as Subjectivity, Self-awareness, Sentience, and the The term subconscious is defined as existing or operating in the Mind beneath or beyond Conscious Awareness.

Unconscious control

Unconsciously, breathing is controlled by specialized centers in the brainstem, which automatically regulate the rate and depth of breathing depending on the body’s needs at any time. The brain stem (or brainstem) is the lower part of the Brain, adjoining and structurally continuous with the Spinal cord. When carbon dioxide levels increase in the blood, it reacts with the water in blood, producing carbonic acid. Lactic acid produced by anaerobic exercise also lowers pH. Lactic acid ( IUPAC Systematic name: 2-hydroxypropanoic acid) also known as milk acid, is a Chemical compound that plays a role Anaerobic exercise is exercise intense enough to trigger anaerobic metabolism. pH is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a Solution. The drop in the blood's pH stimulates chemoreceptors in the carotid and aortic bodies in the blood system to send nerve impulses to the respiration centre in the medulla oblongata and pons in the brain. The carotid body ( Carotid glomus or Glomus caroticum) is a small cluster of Chemoreceptors and supporting cells located near the fork ( Bifurcation The ventral respiratory group ( VRG) is a column of neurons located in the ventrolateral region of the medulla, extending from the caudal facial nucleus to -400μm The medulla oblongata is the lower portion of the Brainstem. It deals with autonomic functions such as breathing and blood pressure The pons (sometimes pons Varolii after Costanzo Varolio) is a structure located on the Brain stem. These, in turn send nerve impulses through the phrenic and thoracic nerves to the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles, increasing the rate of breathing. The phrenic nerve arises from the third fourth and fifth cervical Spinal nerves (C3-C5 in Humans. The thoracic nerves are the Spinal nerves emerging from the Thoracic vertebrae. For other types of diaphragm see Diaphragm. In the Anatomy of Mammals the thoracic diaphragm is a sheet of Muscle Intercostal muscles are several groups of Muscles that run between the Ribs, and help form and move the Chest wall.

This automatic control of respiration can be impaired in premature babies, or by drugs or disease. Premature birth (also known as preterm birth) is the Birth of a Baby before the standard period of Pregnancy is completed

Examples

For instance, while exercising, the level of carbon dioxide in the blood increases due to increased cellular respiration by the muscles, which activates carotid and aortic bodies and the respiration center, which ultimately cause a higher rate of respiration. Cellular respiration is the set of the metabolic reactions and processes that take place in Organisms cells to convert biochemical energy from Muscle (from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus "mouse" is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the

During rest, the level of carbon dioxide is lower, so breathing rate is lower. This ensures an appropriate amount of oxygen is delivered to the muscles and other organs. It is important to reiterate that it is the buildup of carbon dioxide making the blood acidic that elicits the desperation for a breath much more than lack of oxygen.

Interaction

It is not possible for a healthy person to voluntarily stop breathing indefinitely. If we do not inhale, the level of carbon dioxide builds up in our blood, and we experience overwhelming air hunger. This irrepressible reflex is not surprising given that without breathing, the body's internal oxygen levels drop dangerously low within minutes, leading to permanent brain damage followed eventually by death. However, there have been instances where people have survived for as long as two hours without air; this is only possible when submerged in cold water, as this triggers the mammalian diving reflex. The mammalian diving reflex optimizes Mammals Respiration to stay underwater for a long time [1]

If a healthy person were to voluntarily stop breathing (i. e. hold his or her breath) for a long enough amount of time, he or she would lose consciousness, and the body would resume breathing on its own. Consciousness has been defined loosely as a constellation of attributes of Mind such as Subjectivity, Self-awareness, Sentience, and the Because of this one cannot suffocate oneself with this method, unless one's breathing was also restricted by something else (e. g. water, see drowning)

Hyperventilating causes a drop in CO2 below normal levels, lowering blood acidity to trick the brain into thinking it has more oxygen than is actually present. Drowning is Death as caused by suffocation when a liquid causes interruption of the body's absorption of oxygen from the air leading to Asphyxia. In Medicine, hyperventilation (or overbreathing) is the state of Breathing faster and/or deeper than necessary bringing about lightheadedness and other Hyperventilating can cause your blood oxygen levels to go to dangerous levels.

Relationship to death

Breath is sometimes used as a metaphor for life itself, and often "last breath" is the most obvious sign that death has occurred. Death is the termination of the biological functions that define living Organisms It refers both to a specific The association between the end of life and breathing is not absolute, as scientists have discovered the brain/mind can continue to function for many minutes without the continuation of oxygen and/or its properties. Though thought to "restart" breathing, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) only circulates blood through the body.

Composition of air

The air we inhale is roughly 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0. Nitrogen (ˈnaɪtɹəʤɪn is a Chemical element that has the symbol N and Atomic number 7 and Atomic weight 14 Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the 96% argon and 0. This article pertains to the chemical element For other uses see Argon (disambiguation. 04% carbon dioxide, helium, water, and other gases. Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single Helium ( He) is a colorless odorless tasteless non-toxic Inert Monatomic Chemical Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. This page is about the physical properties of gas as a state of matter (% by volume)

The permanent gases in air we exhale are roughly 78% nitrogen, 15% to 18% oxygen, 4% to 5% carbon dioxide and 0. Nitrogen (ˈnaɪtɹəʤɪn is a Chemical element that has the symbol N and Atomic number 7 and Atomic weight 14 Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single 96% argon (% by volume). This article pertains to the chemical element For other uses see Argon (disambiguation. Additionally vapors and trace gases are present: 5% water vapor, several parts per million (ppm) of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, 1 part per million (ppm) of ammonia and less than 1 ppm of acetone, methanol, ethanol and other volatile organic compounds.

Not all of the oxygen breathed in is replaced by carbon dioxide; around 15% to 18% of what we breathe out is still oxygen. The exact amount of exhaled oxygen and carbon dioxide varies according to the fitness, energy expenditure and diet of that particular person. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single Also our reliance on this relatively small amount of oxygen can cause overactivity or euphoria in pure or oxygen rich environments.

Cultural significance

In Tai Chi Chuan, aerobic training is combined with breathing to exercise the diaphram muscles, and to train effective posture, which both make better use of the body's energy. Tai chi chuan (is an internal Chinese martial art often practiced for Health reasons Aerobic exercise refers to Exercise that involves or improves oxygen consumption by the body For other types of diaphragm see Diaphragm. In the Anatomy of Mammals the thoracic diaphragm is a sheet of Muscle In music, breath is used to play wind instruments and many aerophones. An aerophone is any Musical instrument which produces Sound primarily by causing a body of air to vibrate without the use of strings or membranes and without Laughter, physically, is simply repeated sharp breaths. Hiccups and yawns are other breath-related phenomena. A hiccup or hiccough (normally pronounced "HICK-up" ˈhɪkʌp also known as a condition of singulitis is the Spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm A yawn (from the Middle English yanen, an alteration of yonen or yenen, which in turn comes from the Old English geonian

Ancients commonly linked the breath to a life force. The Hebrew Bible refers to God breathing the breath of life into clay to make Adam a living soul (nephesh, roughly "breather"). The term Hebrew Bible is a generic reference to those books of the Bible originally written in Biblical Hebrew (and the related Biblical Aramaic Nephesh (נפש is the Hebrew word commonly translated as Soul in English It also refers to the breath as returning to God when a mortal dies. The terms "spirit," "qi," and "psyche"[2] are related to the concept of breath.

References

  1. ^ Ramey CA, Ramey DN, Hayward JS. Dive response of children in relation to cold-water near drowning. J Appl Physiol 2001;62(2):665-8. Source: Diana Hacker (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2002). Adapted from Victoria E. McMillan (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2001). See it cited here
  2. ^ psych-, psycho-, -psyche, -psychic, -psychical, -psychically + (Greek: mind, spirit, consciousness; mental processes; the human soul; breath of life)

See also

Diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing, belly breathing or deep breathing is the act of breathing deep into your lungs by flexing your diaphragm Agonal respiration is an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by shallow slow (3-4 per minute irregular inspirations followed by irregular pauses Cheyne-Stokes respiration (also known as periodic breathing) is an abnormal pattern of Breathing characterized by oscillation of ventilation between Apnea Biot's respiration, sometimes also called cluster respiration, is an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by groups of quick shallow inspirations followed by regular Mouth breathing refers to the state of Inhaling and exhaling through the Mouth. Nasal breathing refers to the state of Inhaling and exhaling through the Nose. Pneumatology is the study of spiritual beings and phenomena especially the interactions between humans and God. Prana (प्राण) is the Sanskrit for " Breath " (from the root prā "to fill" cognate to Latin plenus "full" In traditional Chinese culture, qi (zh [[wikt氣 氣]] Pinyin qì, Wade-Giles ch'i Jyutping The respiratory rate (aka respiration rate, pulmonary ventilation rate or ventilation rate) is the number of breaths a living being such as a human takes The English word " spirit " comes from the Latin " spiritus " (breath Halitosis, oral malodor, breath odor mouth odor foul breath fetor oris fetor ex ore or most commonly bad breath are terms used to describe noticeably unpleasant Liquid breathing is a form of respiration in which a normally air-breathing organism breathes an Oxygen -rich Liquid (usually a Perfluorocarbon

Dictionary

breathing

-verb

  1. Present participle of breathe.

-noun

  1. The act of respiration; a single instance of this.
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