Discuss the events involved with inhalations and exhalations during normal and laboured respiration.

Question 1

Normal Respiration:
Inhalation (Breathing In):

Answer 1

• The diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle below the lungs, contracts and moves downwards.
• The external intercostal muscles (muscles between the ribs) contract, lifting the ribs up and out.
• The chest cavity expands, creating a lower pressure inside the lungs.
• Air rushes into the lungs through the nose or mouth, the trachea, and the bronchial tubes.
• oxygen in the air is transferred to the bloodstream in the alveoli, where gas exchange occurs.

Question 2

Normal Respiration:
Exhalation (Breathing Out):

Answer 2

• The diaphragm and external intercostal muscles relax.

-The chest cavity becomes smaller, increasing the pressure inside the lungs.

• Carbon dioxide, a waste product, is expelled from the bloodstream into the alveoli.
• Air is forced out of the lungs and expelled through the nose or mouth

Question 3

Laboured Respiration

Answer 3

• Laboured respiration occurs when there is an increased demand for oxygen or when breathing becomes difficult due to certain factors such as illness or physical exertion.

Question 4

Laboured Respiration:
Inhalation (Breathing In):

Answer 4

• The exact process as normal inhalation occurs but with increased effort due to the body’s higher oxygen demand.
• Additional muscles, such as the neck and shoulder muscles, may be recruited to further expand the chest cavit

Question 5

Laboured Respiration:
Exhalation (Breathing Out):

Answer 5

• The exact process as normal exhalation occurs but with an increased effort to expel carbon dioxide from the lungs.
• Laboured exhalation may require more forceful contraction of the abdominal muscles to help push the diaphragm upward and expel air.