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| {{SI}}
| | #Redirect[[Breathing]] |
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| ==Overview==
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| '''Breathing''' transports [[oxygen]] into the body and [[carbon dioxide]] out of the body. [[Aerobic respiration|Aerobic]] [[organism]]s require oxygen to create energy via [[Cellular respiration|respiration]], in the form of energy-rich [[molecule]]s such as [[glucose]]. The medical term for normal relaxed breathing is eupnoea. Organisms breathe to avoid death from [[asphyxiation]].
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| ==Mechanics==
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| Breathing in, or inhaling, is usually an active movement, with the contraction of the [[Thoracic diaphragm|diaphragm]] muscles needed. At rest, breathing out, or exhaling, is normally a passive process powered by the elastic recoil of the [[chest]], similar to a deflating balloon. The following organs are used in respiration: mouth, nose, gullet, windpipe, lungs, diaphragm.
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| ==Gas exchange==
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| Breathing is only part of the process of delivering [[oxygen]] to where it is needed in the body. 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]]. Once in the [[blood]] the [[heart]] powers the flow of dissolved gases around the body in the circulation.
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| As well as [[carbon dioxide]], breathing also results in loss of [[water]] from the body. Exhaled air has a relative humidity of 100% because of water diffusing across the moist surface of breathing passages and alveoli.
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| ==Control of breathing==
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| {{Main|Control of respiration}}
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| Breathing is one of the few bodily functions which, within limits, can be controlled both consciously and unconsciously. | |
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| ===Conscious control===
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| Conscious attention to breathing is common in many forms of meditation, specifically anapana and other forms of yoga. In [[swimming]], [[cardio]] [[Physical fitness|fitness]], [[speech communication|speech]] or vocal training, one learns to discipline one's breathing, initially consciously but later sub-consciously, for purposes other than life support.
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| ===Unconscious control===
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| 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. 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]]. The drop in the blood's pH stimulates chemoreceptors in the [[carotid body|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. These, in turn send nerve impulses through the [[phrenic nerve|phrenic]] and [[thoracic nerve]]s to the [[Thoracic diaphragm|diaphragm]] and the [[intercostal muscles]], increasing the rate of breathing.
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| This automatic control of respiration can be impaired in [[Premature baby|premature babies]], or by drugs or disease.
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| ====Examples====
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| For instance, while '''exercising''', the level of carbon dioxide in the blood increases due to increased [[cellular respiration]] by the [[muscle]]s, which activates carotid and aortic bodies and the respiration center, which ultimately cause a higher rate of respiration.
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| 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.
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| ===Interaction===
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| 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]].<ref>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 [http://www.dianahacker.com/pdfs/Hacker-Mart-CBE.pdf here]</ref>
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| 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. 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]])
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| [[Hyperventilating]] causes a drop in CO<sub>2</sub> below normal levels, lowering blood acidity to trick the brain into thinking it has more oxygen than is actually present. Hyperventilating can cause your blood oxygen levels to go to dangerous levels.
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| ==Relationship to death==
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| Breath is sometimes used as a metaphor for life itself, and often "last breath" is the most obvious sign that [[death]] has occurred. The association between the end of life and breathing is not absolute, however. As modern treatment can now take over the process of breathing by mechanical ventilation, or [[cardiopulmonary resuscitation]] (CPR), breathing can be restarted if it stops. Because of this, modern deaths are now better defined in terms of [[brain]] dysfunction.
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| ==Composition of air==
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| The air we inhale is roughly 78% [[nitrogen]], 21% [[oxygen]], 0.96% [[argon]] and 0.04% [[carbon dioxide]], [[helium]], [[water]], and other gases. (% by volume)
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| The permanent gases in air we exhale are roughly 78% [[nitrogen]], 15% to 18% [[oxygen]], 4% to 5% [[carbon dioxide]] and 0.96% [[argon]] (% by volume). 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.
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| 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. Also our reliance on this relatively small amount of oxygen can cause overactivity or euphoria in pure or oxygen rich environments.
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| ==Cultural significance==
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| In Tai Chi Chuan, aerobic training is combined with breathing to exercise the [[Thoracic diaphragm|diaphram muscles]], and to train effective posture, which both make better use of the body's energy. In music, breath is used to play wind instruments and many aerophones. [[Laughter]], physically, is simply repeated sharp breaths. [[Hiccups]] and [[yawn]]s are other breath-related phenomena.
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| 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"). It also refers to the breath as returning to God when a mortal dies. The terms "spirit," "''qi''," and "psyche"<ref>[http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/2730/6/?spage=14&letter=P]</ref> are related to the concept of breath.
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| ==Additional Resources==
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| * {{cite journal | author=Parkes M | title=Breath-holding and its breakpoint. | journal=Exp Physiol | volume=91 | issue=1 | pages=1-15 | year=2006 | id=PMID 16272264}} ''[http://ep.physoc.org/cgi/content/full/91/1/1 Full text]''
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| ==See also==
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| * [[Agonal breathing]]
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| * [[Cheyne-Stokes respiration]]
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| * [[Biot's respiration]]
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| * [[Mouth breathing]]
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| * [[Nose breathing]]
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| * [[Pneuma]]
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| * [[Prana]]
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| * [[Qi]]
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| * [[Respiratory rate]]
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| * [[Halitosis]]
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| * [[Liquid breathing]]
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| {{Respiratory physiology}}
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| [[Category:Pulmonology]]
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| [[Category:Reflexes]]
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| [[zh-min-nan:Ho͘-khip]]
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| [[bg:Дишане]]
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| [[cs:Dýchání]]
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| [[da:Respiration]]
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| [[de:Atem]]
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| [[es:Respiración]]
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| [[eo:Spirado]]
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| [[fr:Respiration]]
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| [[is:Öndun]]
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| [[it:Respirazione]]
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| [[jbo:vasxu]]
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| [[mk:Дишење]]
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| [[nl:Ademhaling (mens)]]
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| [[ja:呼吸]]
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| [[no:Respirasjon]]
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| [[pl:Oddychanie]]
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| [[pt:Respiração]]
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| [[qu:Samay]]
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| [[ru:Дыхание]]
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| [[sq:Fryma]]
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| [[sk:Dýchanie]]
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| [[sl:Pljučno dihanje]]
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| [[fi:Hengitys]]
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| [[sv:Andning]]
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| [[uk:Дихальна система]]
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| [[yi:אטעם]]
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| [[zh:呼吸作用]]
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