Question

Explain what happens when a person exhales. What forces air out of the lungs?

Short answer

When a person exhales, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, causing the thoracic cavity to decrease in volume, which increases pressure in the thoracic cavity and forces air out of the lungs.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Exhalation

Exhalation is the process of releasing air from the lungs. It is part of the breathing cycle that includes inhalation, the process of taking air into the lungs. Exhalation is a passive process for the most part, meaning that it does not typically require active muscle contraction to occur.

The Role of the Diaphragm and Intercostal Muscles

During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and moves downward while the intercostal muscles pull the rib cage upward and outward, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity, which decreases the pressure and allows air to flow into the lungs. When these muscles relax during exhalation, the elasticity of the lungs and the thoracic cage returns them to their original size, which decreases the volume and increases the pressure in the thoracic cavity.

The Process of Exhalation

As the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, the volume of the thoracic cavity decreases. This decrease in volume leads to an increase in pressure in the thoracic cavity relative to the atmospheric pressure. Because gases move from a region of higher pressure to a region of lower pressure, the air is then forced out of the lungs and exhaled through the airways.

Key concepts

Diaphragm Function in Breathing

The diaphragm plays a critical role in the breathing process. Think of it like a powerful accordion situated beneath your lungs. During inhalation, your diaphragm contracts and flattens out, creating more space in the chest cavity and pulling air into the lungs. It essentially acts like a vacuum.

When you exhale, the opposite occurs. The diaphragm relaxes and moves upwards into a dome shape, which naturally decreases the space in your chest cavity. This decrease in space pushes air out of the lungs. Its relaxing motion is the main spring that starts the exhalation phase and is generally a passive process, meaning it does not require much effort from your body under normal circumstances.

Intercostal Muscles Role

Located between the ribs, the intercostal muscles are essential sidekicks to the diaphragm. While the diaphragm is the primary muscle used in breathing, the intercostal muscles assist by helping expand and contract the chest cavity.

When you inhale, the external intercostal muscles contract to lift the ribcage, contributing to the overall increase in thoracic cavity volume. During exhalation, the internal intercostal muscles, which lie deep to the external ones, can contract to depress the ribcage, thus aiding in pushing air out of the lungs. However, it's worth noting that during restful breathing, exhalation is mainly a passive event driven by the natural recoil of the lungs and does not involve significant muscle contraction.

Thoracic Cavity During Exhalation

The thoracic cavity is the chamber of the chest protected by the rib cage, where the lungs and heart are located. It's an architectural marvel that aids in the crucial task of breathing.

As you exhale, this cavity's volume diminishes because the diaphragm and intercostal muscles return to their resting states. This volume change results in an increase in pressure inside the thoracic cavity. Think of this as lightly squeezing a balloon. The air inside the balloon (lungs) is under more pressure and so it seeks an escape to the lower pressure environment outside, leading to exhalation.

This process showcases the beautiful balance of pressures and volumes at work in the human body, allowing us to breathe effectively and without conscious thought most of the time.