Describe how contraction of the diaphragm allows the lungs...

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Key Concepts

Diaphragmatic Contraction

The contraction of the diaphragm—a primary respiratory muscle—plays a key role in breathing. When it contracts, it moves downward, increasing the overall volume of the thoracic cavity, which is essential for drawing air into the lungs.

Intrathoracic Pressure and Lung Expansion

As the diaphragm contracts and the thoracic volume increases, the pressure inside the chest cavity decreases relative to the external atmospheric pressure. This pressure gradient causes air to flow into the lungs, allowing them to fill. This process is based on Boyle’s law, which relates the inverse relationship between pressure and volume.

Gas Exchange via Diffusion

Once air is inside the alveoli, oxygen from the inhaled air diffuses across the alveolar-capillary membrane into the blood. This movement is driven by a concentration gradient, as the oxygen concentration is higher in the alveoli compared to the blood, facilitating efficient gas exchange essential for cellular respiration.

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