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What changes occur in the thorax during ventilation?

During ventilation, the thorax expands as the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity. This expansion decreases the pressure inside the thorax, causing air to rush into the lungs to equalize the pressure. Relaxation of these muscles allows the thorax to recoil back to its original position, pushing air out of the lungs.


How do pressure changes with the thorax make expiration possible?

During expiration, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, causing the thoracic cavity to decrease in volume. This decrease in volume increases the pressure within the thorax, which pushes air out of the lungs. This process facilitates expiration by creating a pressure gradient that allows air to flow out of the lungs.


How many joints in a thorax?

There are typically 12 pairs of ribs in the thorax, which means there are 24 rib joints in total in the thorax.


What is the location of middle thorax human?

The middle thorax in humans refers to the central region of the chest, situated between the upper thorax (which includes the area above the clavicles) and the lower thorax (below the ribcage). It generally encompasses the area around the sternum and the ribs, housing vital organs such as the heart and lungs. The middle thorax is bordered laterally by the ribcage and posteriorly by the thoracic spine.


Respiratory function of the thorax?

The thorax is the region of the trunk between the neck and the diaphragm (essentially the chest). Its main respiratory function (despite being the space that contains all the other respiratory organs) is to enable the act of breathing. Essentially, the act of breathing is about changing the volume of your thoracic cavity; increasing it to breathe in and decreasing it to breathe out. Your lungs are surrounded by an airtight 'skin' called the pleural membrane. This allows the two lungs to be contained in one airtight sac and the only way in or out is through the trachea and ultimately the mouth or nose. When the thoracic space increases, a pressure gradient is created between the external (higher) air pressure and the internal (lower) air pressure, thus, air flows down the pressure gradient into the lungs to equalize the pressure and you have breathed in. When breathing out the reverse happens, the thoracic volume decreases creating a pressure gradient (higher on the inside, lower on the outside) and air flows out of the lungs. Muscles are responsible for changing the volume of your thoracic cavity. The most important is the diaphragm. When relaxed it is dome shaped with the top near the base of your lungs and the bottom at the lower end of your rib cage. When it contracts, it pulls down and increases the internal space allowing the inspiration of air. The other muscles involved are called the intercostals. They are located in between your ribs and are divided between the internal and the external ones. When the external intercostal muscles contract, they increase the space between each of the ribs and therefore increase the thoracic space. When the internal intercostal muscles contract, they pull the ribs closer together and decrease the internal volume (breathing out). There are also muscles in the neck (sternocleidomastoid and scalenes) that help the chest rise up and out when inspiring. All these muscles work together to increase the thoracic volume and enable the act of breathing.

Related Questions

What happens to the pressure inside the lungs as the volume of the thorax increase?

As your diaphragm expands, the pressure in your thoracic cavity decreases. Air rushes into the partial vacuum, and you inhale.


How does the diaphragm help during inhale and exhale?

When it contracts it causes a very significant increase in the volume of the thorax, thus reducing the pressure inside and causing negative pressure in relation to outside. Hence air moves inwards, due to the pressure difference and thus inhallation is accomplished. The reverse occurs in exhallation.


What happens during inhalation phase of breathing?

Pressure within the thorax decreases and air is drawn into the lungs


What changes occur in the thorax during ventilation?

During ventilation, the thorax expands as the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity. This expansion decreases the pressure inside the thorax, causing air to rush into the lungs to equalize the pressure. Relaxation of these muscles allows the thorax to recoil back to its original position, pushing air out of the lungs.


What are the factors for holding the lungs to the thorax wall?

Surface tension from pleural fluid, positive pressure, and atmospheric pressure on the thorax.


What happens to your thorax when you breathe in?

up and downwnwn


What happens to the you when you exhale?

The ribs lower during exhalation. During forced exhalation, the quadratus lumborum muscle stabilizes the 12th rib while the internal intercostal muscles and transverse thoracic muscle pull the ribs downward forcefully to decrease the volume of the thorax.


What happens to you ribs when you exhale?

The ribs lower during exhalation. During forced exhalation, the quadratus lumborum muscle stabilizes the 12th rib while the internal intercostal muscles and transverse thoracic muscle pull the ribs downward forcefully to decrease the volume of the thorax.


What process do mammals use to breathe?

In mammals the muscles that participate in the breathing process are the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles. In respiratory insufficiency other muscles can help the respiration, the muscles of the shoulders, neck, thorax and abdomen. The diaphragm (exclusive of mammals) and the intercostal muscles can contract or relax varying the volume of the thorax (the compartment where the lungs are located). The changing of the thorax volume forces inhalation or expiration. When the thorax volume is increased an internal pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure (external) is created and gases naturally enter the lungs. When the thorax volume is lowered the internal pressure rises above the external pressure and the air is expelled from the lungs.


What transports air to the lungs?

AnswerAir is actually forced into the lungs by atmospheric pressure. But here's the rest of the story. The diaphragm, a muscle below the lungs, contracts and actually makes the space in which the lungs are located, the thorax, get bigger. When this space gets bigger, the pressure inside it decreases. There is now a difference in pressure between the lung cavity and the outside air with the outside air having more pressure. Air goes from where the pressure is higher to where it is lower, and so it goes into the lungs. That's called inspiration or inhaling. When the diaphragm relaxes, the thorax gets smaller and the pressure increases in the lungs and air is forced out. Click the link for more information.


How do the two lungs work together?

Your lungs are placed in the thorax. Your thorax or chest expand and contract. So that your lungs get and gives air. This happens simultaneously. So the lungs work together.


How do pressure changes with the thorax make expiration possible?

During expiration, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, causing the thoracic cavity to decrease in volume. This decrease in volume increases the pressure within the thorax, which pushes air out of the lungs. This process facilitates expiration by creating a pressure gradient that allows air to flow out of the lungs.