Explain the process of ventilation in human lungs.

Ventilation is movement of air into and out of lungs;
volume of thorax/lungs/chest increased/decreased;
pressure in thorax/lungs/chest decreased/increased;

air flows from higher to lower pressure / air flows until the pressures are equal;

During inspiration/inhalation:

external intercostal muscles contract so ribcage moved up/out; diaphragm contracts so moves down/becomes flatter;
internal intercostal/abdomen (wall) muscles relax;

During expiration/exhalation:

external intercostal muscles relax so ribcage moved down/in; diaphragm relaxes;
recoil of elastic fibres that stretched during inspiration;
internal intercostal muscles contract (during forced ventilation); abdomen (wall) muscles contract (during forced ventilation);

AK
Answered by Anahita K. Biology tutor

1684 Views

See similar Biology IB tutors

Related Biology IB answers

All answers ▸

What are the similarities and differences between photophosphorylation and oxidative phosphorylation?


Compare and contrast a food chain and a food web.


Discuss the incompleteness of the fossil record and the resulting uncertainties about human evolution.


Prior to cell division, cells replicate. Explain the process of DNA replication in prokaryotes.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences