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Biology Ch. 10.2
The Mechanics of Breathing
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Breathing | The mechanism by which mammals ventilate their lungs. Air flows from a region of HIGH pressure to a region of LOW pressure. |
| Intercostal Muscles | Muscles between the ribs on the rib cage. |
| Diaphragm | A muscle that separates the lungs from the stomach. (Every mammal has a _________). |
| Inhalation | When the external intercostal muscles and diaphragm contract. Diaphragm moves down in the chest cavity which increases the volume of this cavity. |
| Exhalation | The external intercostal muscles and diaphragm relax. Internal intercostal muscles contract to pull the rib cage back to its original position. |
| Tidal Volume | The volume of air inhaled and exhaled in a normal breathing movement. |
| Inspiratory Reserve Volume | Additional volume of air that can be taken in, beyond the tidal volume. |
| Expiratory Reserve Volume | The additional volume that can be forced out of the lungs, beyond the tidal volume. |
| Vital Capacity | The total volume of gas that can be moved in or out of the lungs. |
| Residual Volume | The amount of gas that remains in the lungs and the passageways of the respiratory system even after a full exhalation. |
| Respiratory Efficiency | The rate at which the oxygen can be transferred into the blood stream for transport to the rest of the body. |