What is The mechanical process that moves air in and out of the lungs called?
Breathing, or respiration, is the mechanical process of moving air in and out of the lungs. It involves the thoracic cavity, which is the space inside the chest, and the diaphragm, which is a large muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.
When you inhale, the diaphragm contracts and the thoracic cavity expands. This creates a negative pressure in the chest, which causes air to flow into the lungs through the nose or mouth. When you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and the thoracic cavity collapses. This creates a positive pressure in the chest, which causes air to flow out of the lungs through the nose or mouth.
The respiratory system is also responsible for gas exchange, which is the process of taking oxygen into the bloodstream and removing carbon dioxide from the bloodstream. Oxygen is transported to the body's cells through the bloodstream, where it is used for cellular respiration. Carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular respiration, is transported to the lungs through the bloodstream and exhaled.