Inhalation
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Inhalation (or inspiration) is the process of drawing air or other gases into the
Physiology
The process of inhalation involves a series of coordinated movements and physiological mechanisms. The primary anatomical structures involved in inhalation are the respiratory system, which includes the
- Inspiration: Inhalation begins with the contraction of the thoracic diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. The diaphragm contracts and moves downward, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity.
- Air entry: When a person or animal inhales, the diaphragm, located below the lungs, contracts, and the intercostal muscles between the ribs expand the chest cavity. This expansion creates a lower pressure inside the chest compared to the atmosphere, causing air to flow into the lungs.
- Air filtration: The nasal passages and the mouth act as entry points for air. These passages are lined with tiny hair-like structures called ciliaand mucus-producing cells that help filter and humidify the incoming air, removing particles and debris before it reaches the lungs.
- alveoli. In the alveoli, oxygen from the inhaled air diffuses into the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, is released from the blood into the alveoli for exhalation.
- Expiration: Exhalation is a passive process, primarily driven by the relaxation of the diaphragm and the elastic recoil of the lungs. This expels carbon dioxide from the body.[1][2]
Other substances – accidental
Examples of accidental inhalation includes inhalation of water (e.g. in drowning), smoke, food, vomitus and less common foreign substances[3] (e.g. tooth fragments, coins, batteries, small toy parts, needles).
Other substances – deliberate
Recreational use
Legal[
Illegal[
Medical use
Diagnostic
Various specialized investigations use the inhalation of known substances for diagnostic purposes. Examples include
Therapeutic
Gases and other drugs used in anaesthesia include oxygen, nitrous oxide, helium, xenon,
Mechanism
Inhalation begins with the contraction of the muscles attached to the rib cage; this causes an expansion in the chest cavity. Then takes place the onset of contraction of the
The inflow of air into the lungs occurs via the
Other muscles that can be involved in inhalation include:[11]
- External intercostal muscles
- Scalene muscles
- Sternocleidomastoid muscle
- Trapezius muscle
Hyperinflation
Hyperinflation or hyperaeration is where the lung volume is abnormally increased, with increased filling of the alveoli. This results in an increased
Yoga
Yogis such as B. K. S. Iyengar advocate both inhaling and exhaling through the nose in the practice of yoga, rather than inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.[13][14][15] They tell their students that the "nose is for breathing, the mouth is for eating."[14][16][17][13]
See also
- Exhalation
- Inhalant – psychoactive drugs consumed through inhalation
- List of terms of lung size and activity
- Mouth breathing
- Obligate nasal breathing
- Respiratory system
- Smoking - a specific inhalation route
- Breathing
- Work of breathing
Further reading
- Nestor, James (2020). ISBN 978-0735213616.
References
- ^ Guyton, A. C., & Hall, J. E. (2006). Textbook of Medical Physiology. Elsevier Saunders.
- ^ West, J. B. (2000). Respiratory Physiology: The Essentials. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- PMID 20559470.
- ^ Turowski, Jason (2016-04-29). "Should You Breathe Through Your Mouth or Your Nose?". Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
- ^ "Your Nose, the Guardian of Your Lungs". Boston Medical Center. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- ^ Dahl, Melissa (2011-01-11). "'Mouth-breathing' gross, harmful to your health". NBC News. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
- ^ Valcheva, Zornitsa (January 2018). "THE ROLE OF MOUTH BREATHING ON DENTITION DEVELOPMENT AND FORMATION" (PDF). Journal of IMAB. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- ^ Gross, Terry (2020-05-27). "How The 'Lost Art' Of Breathing Can Impact Sleep And Resilience". National Public Radio (NPR)/Fresh Air. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
- .
- ^ West, J.B. (1985). Respiratory physiology: the essentials. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins. pp. 21–30, 84–84, 98–101.
- ^ Nosek, Thomas M. "Section 4/4ch2/s4ch2_10". Essentials of Human Physiology. Archived from the original on 2016-03-24.[dead link]
- ^ "Hyperinflation". Medcyclopaedia. GE. Archived from the original on 2011-12-08.
- ^ a b Yoga Journal Editors (2017-04-12). "Q&A: Is Mouth Breathing OK in Yoga?". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
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has generic name (help) - ^ a b Payne, Larry. "Yogic Breathing: Tips for Breathing through Your Nose (Most of the Time)". Yoga For Dummies, 3rd Edition. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
- ^ Himalayan Institute Core Faculty, Himalayan Institute Core Faculty (2017-07-13). "Yogic Breathing: A Study Guide". Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
- ISBN 9781608827022. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- ISBN 978-0547569659. Retrieved 2020-05-31.