We explain what breathing is and why we breathe. Also, how is the respiration process and what happens to the cells when they breathe.
What is respiration?
Respiration is a biological process typical of living beings, whose objective is to keep your body active (therefore alive) through the exchange of carbon dioxide by oxygen.
Breathing is commonly known as the process by which we inhale air, but that is only the manifestation of the respiratory system whose process is even more complex, where the real beneficiaries are the cells of the organisms, in the so-called cellular respiration.
For the ones living beings Aerobics can maintain their vital functions active, they need this process that consists of the consumption of oxygen and the expulsion of carbon dioxide (CO2). Depending on the species and the place where they live, they can acquire this vital element (O) through air or Water, through the pulmonary, branchial, cutaneous or tracheal system.
After the oxygen has served its purpose within the system, what is returned to the environmentAs waste, it is carbon dioxide. Another element, that for other organisms such as plants it is vital. so we are constantly in an exchange in the ecosystem.
Why do we breathe?
As we pointed out previously, this process is essential to keep aerobic species alive and this is achieved by maintaining the metabolism of the organism.
From the nose to the lungs and in general, all the organs that make up the respiratory system, are in charge of capturing oxygen and taking it to the body. This will allow, for example, oxygenate the blood or synthesize sugars to obtain Energy. All cellular tissues require oxygen to carry out their functions.
Breathing process
The process of breathing presents three rhythms, which are mentioned below, but in terms of the biomechanics of oxygenation there are only two, inspiration and expiration.
- Inspiration. Also known as inhalation. It is the moment where the air is brought from the outside to the inside of the body, through the nose, nasal cavity, mouth, trachea, larynx and pharynx. What happens here is that the rib cage expands and the diaphragm in turn descends, creating enough space for the lungs to fill with air. Here the variations between the following pressures play an important role: pleural, alveolar and transpulmonary.
- Pause. An instant that the air remains inside.
- Expiration. Or also called exhalation. It is the process of expelling air and its waste (or what is not required in the body such as carbon dioxide), where the diaphragm and ribs return to their place, the muscles that were retracted in inspiration relax, causing air is expelled from the lungs.
What happens to cells when we breathe?
The process by which the cells, and therefore the tissues, capture the oxygen carried to the body, is called tissue respiration, where the blood delivers O through the cellular membrane and the CO2 is returned, in addition to water steam.
This exchange happens when cells are surrounded by oxygenated blood. This process occurs each time you breathe in and out. In tissue respiration, around 80% of oxygen is consumed, it is where more energy is used throughout life.