(1 point)
The
is a strong wall of muscle that contracts to create a suction in the chest to draw in air and expand the lungs. When the muscle relaxes, the chest
cavity decreases and the air is pushed out.
diaphragm
The muscle you are referring to is the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle located at the base of the ribcage. When it contracts, it flattens and moves downward, creating a suction that pulls air into the lungs and expands the chest cavity. As the diaphragm relaxes, it returns to its dome shape, and the chest cavity decreases in size, causing air to be pushed out of the lungs.
The muscle you are referring to is called the diaphragm. It plays a crucial role in the process of breathing. The diaphragm is located at the base of the chest and separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.
To better understand how the diaphragm works, let's break down the process of breathing:
1. Inhalation (taking in air):
- When you breathe in, the diaphragm contracts. This means that it flattens out and moves downward.
- As the diaphragm moves down, it creates more space in the chest cavity, allowing the lungs to expand.
- As a result, air is drawn into the lungs through the airways (trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles).
2. Exhalation (pushing out air):
- When you breathe out, the diaphragm relaxes and moves back upwards.
- As the diaphragm moves up, it reduces the space in the chest cavity, causing the lungs to compress.
- The compression of the lungs forces the air out of the respiratory system.
So, in summary, the diaphragm contracts to create a vacuum effect, drawing air into the lungs during inhalation. When the diaphragm relaxes, the chest cavity decreases in volume, pushing air out of the lungs during exhalation.