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Inhalation vs. Exhalation Guide

Ventilation involves the processes of inhalation and exhalation. During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and the intercostal muscles relax, causing the lungs to inflate and the chest cavity to increase in size. This draws air rich in oxygen into the lungs. Exhalation is a passive process where the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax and contract respectively, decreasing the lung volume and chest cavity size to push carbon dioxide rich air out of the lungs. Inhalation decreases air pressure in the lungs while exhalation increases the pressure.

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170 views4 pages

Inhalation vs. Exhalation Guide

Ventilation involves the processes of inhalation and exhalation. During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and the intercostal muscles relax, causing the lungs to inflate and the chest cavity to increase in size. This draws air rich in oxygen into the lungs. Exhalation is a passive process where the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax and contract respectively, decreasing the lung volume and chest cavity size to push carbon dioxide rich air out of the lungs. Inhalation decreases air pressure in the lungs while exhalation increases the pressure.

Uploaded by

Sijabuliso Sibanda
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Ventilation

I
1. Inhalation is the process of intake of air into lungs,
whereas exhalation is the process of letting air out from lungs.
2. Inhalation is an active process, though exhalation is a passive
process.
3. The diaphragm contract during the inhalation and get flattens by
moving down, while they relax during exhalation and turned into dome-
shaped by moving up.
4. The intercostal muscles relax and external costal muscles contract in
the inhalation process, while in the exhalation process internal
intercostal muscles contract and external intercostal muscles relax.
5. The volume of lungs increase during inhalation it means it gets
inflated and it decreases during exhalation means it gets deflated.
6. The size of chest cavity increase in inhalation and it decrease during
exhalation.
7. During the inhalation air rich in oxygen is taken into the blood but
carbon dioxide is pushed out in exhalation process from the blood.
8. Due to the effect of intercostal muscles rib cage moves upward and
outward in inhalation, while in exhalation the rib cage moves downward.
9. The composition of air which is inhaled is oxygen and nitrogen mix,
while the composition of air which is exhaled is carbon dioxide and
nitrogen mix.
10. Inhalation results in a decrease in air pressure (below atmospheric
pressure). In exhalation, there is an increase in air pressure.

Difference Between Inhalation and Exhalation


The table below shows the differences between inhalation and exhalation

Inhalation Exhalation

What it means

Intake of air into the Expelling air out of the


lungs lungs

Type

Active process Passive process

Size of the chest in the process

Increases, expands Decreases, reduces

Diaphragm – role

Contracts, gets flattened Relaxes, moves up


by moving down forming a dome-shape

Intercostal muscle – role

Relaxation of internal Contraction of the


intercostal muscles and internal intercostal
contraction of external muscles and relaxation of
intercostal muscles external intercostal
muscles

Lungs – volume

Rises to cause inflation Reduces causing


deflation

Action it causes

Supply of oxygen-rich Carbon dioxide is


air to the blood expelled out
Air composition

Inhaled air is a mix of Exhaled air is a mix of


oxygen and nitrogen nitrogen and carbon
dioxide

Air pressure

Decrease Increase

Effect of intercostal muscles

Ribcage moves upwards Ribcage moves


and outwards downwards

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