How we breathe

How we breathe

We use specialised muscles to enable us to breathe. The lungs have no muscles of their own. The muscle that enables us to breathe in (inhale) is called the diaphragm, a thin, arched muscle that spans across the bottom of the chest. When the diaphragm contracts, its arch pulls downwards, making the chest cavity bigger. The pressure in the lungs is lower than the air pressure outside, so air rushes through the airways into the lungs. The muscles between the ribs (intercostal muscles) also help us breathe by moving the rib cage.

Breathing out can happen without effort. When resting, we breathe out (exhale) without needing help from muscles. Thanks to their natural elasticity, the lungs and chest wall, which are actively stretched during inhalation, contract and expel air out of the lungs when the diaphragm relaxes. During active exercise, however, we use the abdominal muscles to push the diaphragm against the lungs, causing the air in our lungs to be pushed out.

Usually, breathing happens automatically. Thanks to a special part of our brain called the respiratory centre, we do not need to always concentrate on breathing. Which is just as well: the average healthy adult at rest inhales and exhales 12 to 20 times per minute - which is 28,800 times per day! Not being able to breathe freely quickly becomes very distressing. Excess phlegm in the bronchi and lungs makes breathing difficult and can lead to a productive cough. Fortunately, Mucosolvan® is a reliable, effective solution to cough with phlegm - so you can breathe freely again.