The process of inhalation or inspiration can be explained simply by the intake of air. In some cases, this process is further described as the transfer of the oxygen to the bloodstream and then to the blood cells. Further, this is followed by the release of the carbon dioxide from the cells to the bloodstream and pumping it to the lungs, from where the waste carbon dioxide is expelled to the environment. The oxygen enters into the body from the outside environments through inspiration.
This process of inspiration includes the contraction of the diaphragm along with the internal and external intercostals muscles. The process of inspiration tends to be an active process. The process of inspiration has a complete route starting from taking oxygen from the outside atmosphere to the nasal cavity, to the pharynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli (Johnson & Lenford, 2010). It is important that the air must reach to the alveoli because it is where the gaseous exchange occurs.
In the process of inspiration, the air from outside enters into the body and finally to the lungs. Once the air reaches to the lungs, it is carried out simply by the developing the pressure gradient between the outside atmosphere and the lungs. The process of inspiration is way simple as when the air enters into the lungs, the diaphragm of the human body contracts towards the abdominal cavity. (“Midlandstech, 2014)
It is important to know that the external intercostals muscles contract simultaneously, due to which the volume size of the thoracic chamber inside the anteroposterior axis enlarges. This results in the outside movement of the sternum and the ribs, so resulting the increasing of the volume of the thoracic chamber in the dorsoventral axis. Moreover, the increase in the thoracic volume may lead to the increase of the pulmonary volume. As a result of this increase, the intrapulmonary pressure gets lower comparing to the atmospheric pressure. This provides the outside air a medium to get into the body and move into the lungs. (Johnson & Lenford, 2010)
It is important to know that the hemoglobin is taken by the red blood cells when the carbon dioxide is expelled out from the blood (Vanessa, 2014). As soon the muscles utilize the oxygen, the lungs breathed out the carbon-dioxide, which further absorbed into the blood stream. Furthermore, this de-oxygenated blood moves to the heart and then towards the lungs. The lungs process this de-oxygenated blood and eliminate the carbon dioxide, and breathe in more oxygen.(BBC, 2014)
The process of inspiration or inhalation can be further explained with a simple analogy of balloon. The balloon can easily explain the process of inspiration as when the air is blown into it; the balloon gets expand all the way around. Therefore, when you are inhaling the mid-section should expand just like the balloon does, which will allow the air to fill the lungs from the bottom to the top. (Crane, 2013)
In a nutshell, the process of inspiration is a complete cycle through which the body gets the oxygen from outside atmosphere and reaches to the lungs. The respiratory and the cardiovascular system further use the oxygen and transfer it to the muscles to perform work.
References
“BBC”. (2014). Oxygen transport system. Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/pe/the_body/structure_and_function/revision/5/
Crane, S. (2013, September 03). The 4 Stages Of Proper Breathing Explained. Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://themusicministrycoach.com/the-4-stages-of-proper-breathing explained/
Johnson, B., & Lenford, B. (2010). Human Physiology/The respiratory system. Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/The-Respiratory System.pdf
"Midlandstech”. (2014, May). The Respiratory System. Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://classes.midlandstech.edu/carterp/Courses/bio211/chap22/chap22.htm
Vanessa. (2014, May). The Respiratory System. Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://www.scienceclarified.com/everyday/Real-Life-Physics-Vol-3-Biology-Vol 1/Respiration-How-it-works.html
