The mechanism of respiration involves several steps, including pulmonary ventilation, gas exchange in the lungs, and transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
1. Pulmonary Ventilation: This is the process of breathing, which involves the movement of air in and out of the lungs. It is achieved through the contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and moves downward, while the intercostal muscles contract, causing the ribcage to expand. This increases the volume of the thoracic cavity, leading to a decrease in pressure within the lungs. As a result, air rushes into the lungs to equalize the pressure. During exhalation, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, causing the thoracic cavity to decrease in volume. This increases the pressure within the lungs, forcing air out.
2. Gas Exchange in the Lungs: Once air enters the lungs, it reaches the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs surrounded by capillaries. Oxygen from the inhaled air diffuses across the thin walls of the alveoli and into the capillaries, where it binds to hemoglobin molecules in red blood cells. At the same time, carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular respiration, diffuses from the capillaries into the alveoli. This process is facilitated by the concentration gradient of gases and the thinness of the respiratory membrane.
3. Transport of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide in the Blood: Oxygenated blood, containing oxygen bound to hemoglobin, is transported from the lungs to the body tissues through the systemic circulation. The heart pumps oxygenated blood from the left ventricle into the aorta, which branches into smaller arteries and arterioles. These blood vessels deliver oxygen to the tissues, where it is used for cellular respiration. Carbon dioxide, produced as a waste product, diffuses from the tissues into the capillaries. It is then transported back to the lungs through the venous system. Deoxygenated blood, containing carbon dioxide, is carried by the veins and venules back to the heart's right atrium. From there, it is pumped into the right ventricle and then into the pulmonary artery, which carries it to the lungs for elimination during exhalation.
Overall, the mechanism of respiration involves the coordination of pulmonary ventilation, gas exchange in the lungs, and the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood to ensure the delivery of oxygen to the tissues and the removal of carbon dioxide from the body.