Lesson 1.

Breathing Mechanisms
At the end explain the mechanism
of the 1 of respiration.
lesson, you
should be
able to:
Respiration
• Respiration that involves gas exchange in the respiratory
system can be divided two major steps:

Breathing
Gas Exchange
● Inhalation
● In the lungs
● Exhalation
Two Phases of Breathing
Inhalation
• It is when the
diaphragm contracts
and induces the
decrease in air
pressure within the
lungs.
Breathing process
Two Phases of Breathing
Inhalation

• This difference in
air pressure
between the lungs
and the atmosphere
causes air to rush
into the lungs.
Breathing process
Two Phases of Breathing
Exhalation
• As a person breathes
out, the diaphragm
relaxes which decreases
the size of the chest
leading to the increase
in air pressure in the
lungs.
Breathing process
Two Phases of Breathing
Exhalation
• The higher pressure in
the lungs compared to
the atmosphere pushes
air to rush out of the
lungs.

Breathing process
Gas Exchange
• The site of gas exchange
between air and the
blood is the alveoli.

• The mechanism behind

gas exchange is
diffusion

Site of gas exchange

 Respiration has two major steps: breathing and gas
1 exchange.

Breathing has two phases: inhalation and

2 exhalation.

2 Gas exchange is governed by diffusion. Diffusion is

3 the movement of gases from a higher concentration
to a lower concentration.
Oxygen is vital for our
cells to function. It is one
of the main reasons why
we breathe. What will
happen if our breathing
was cut?
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