How Do Your Lungs Work?

The lungs are crucial organs in the respiratory system that allow us to breathe. When we inhale, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, causing the chest cavity to expand. This expansion creates a negative pressure that draws air into the lungs through the trachea. The air then travels down the bronchial tubes and into the smaller bronchioles, eventually reaching the alveoli. In the alveoli, oxygen from the air passes through the thin walls and into the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide is released from the blood into the air to be exhaled. This exchange of gases is essential for providing the body with oxygen and removing waste products. Finally, when we exhale, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, causing the chest cavity to decrease in size and push the air out of the lungs.