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Related Concept Videos

Breathing01:05

Breathing

The process of breathing, inhaling and exhaling, involves the coordinated movement of the chest wall, the lungs, and the muscles that move them. Two muscle groups with important roles in breathing are the diaphragm, located directly below the lungs, and the intercostal muscles, which lie between the ribs. When the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity and creating more room for the lungs to expand. When the intercostal muscles contract, the ribs...
Mechanism of Breathing I: Inspiration01:30

Mechanism of Breathing I: Inspiration

Introduction to Inspiration: The Respiratory System in Action
The respiratory system, an essential network for breathing, comprises the conducting and respiratory zones, each playing a crucial role in the overall process of respiration. Let us explore the detailed mechanism of inspiration, or inhalation, which is the first phase of the respiratory cycle.
Pathway of Air during Inspiration
During inspiration, air enters our body through the nose or mouth and moves through the conducting zone,...
Mechanism of Breathing III: The Accessory Muscles01:21

Mechanism of Breathing III: The Accessory Muscles

The Role of Accessory Muscles in the Respiratory System
The respiratory system is a complex network that relies on primary respiratory muscles like the diaphragm, but also involves accessory muscles to enhance lung expansion and airflow during both inhalation and exhalation.
Enhancing Inhalation with Accessory Muscles:
Accessory muscles such as the sternocleidomastoid, scalene, intercostal, and abdominal muscles are crucial when additional respiratory effort is required, such as during deep...
Mechanism of Breathing II: Expiration01:23

Mechanism of Breathing II: Expiration

The Physiology of Expiration: A Seamless Respiratory Process
Expiration, or exhaling, is a complex physiological process that begins as the inspiratory muscles begin to relax. This relaxation triggers a series of events that epitomize the efficiency of the respiratory system.
Mechanism of Expiration:
Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm01:29

Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm

Respiratory Depth
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
Physiological Control of Respiration01:23

Physiological Control of Respiration

Introduction
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns
08:34

Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns

Published on: September 16, 2019

Chapter 14--looking forward to breathing.

Jack L Feldman1

  • 1Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Progress in Brain Research
|February 22, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The preBötzinger Complex (preBötC) is crucial for normal breathing rhythm generation in mammals. The retrotrapezoid/parafacial respiratory group (RTN/pFRG) modulates breathing patterns, particularly in younger mammals.

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Breath Collection from Children for Disease Biomarker Discovery
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Breath Collection from Children for Disease Biomarker Discovery

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Inspiratory Muscle Training as an Adjunct to the Treatment of Weaning Failure in Critically Ill Patients: A Practical Guide
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Inspiratory Muscle Training as an Adjunct to the Treatment of Weaning Failure in Critically Ill Patients: A Practical Guide

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns
08:34

Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns

Published on: September 16, 2019

Breath Collection from Children for Disease Biomarker Discovery
06:09

Breath Collection from Children for Disease Biomarker Discovery

Published on: February 14, 2019

Inspiratory Muscle Training as an Adjunct to the Treatment of Weaning Failure in Critically Ill Patients: A Practical Guide
04:16

Inspiratory Muscle Training as an Adjunct to the Treatment of Weaning Failure in Critically Ill Patients: A Practical Guide

Published on: January 30, 2026

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Respiratory Physiology

Background:

  • Understanding the neural control of breathing is fundamental to respiratory physiology.
  • Significant advancements in identifying brainstem respiratory centers have occurred since the mid-1980s.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a personal perspective on the historical development of ideas regarding respiratory rhythm generation and modulation.
  • To highlight the roles of key brainstem nuclei in mammalian respiratory control.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature and personal insights into the field of respiratory neurobiology.
  • Focus on the preBötzinger Complex (preBötC) and the retrotrapezoid/parafacial respiratory group (RTN/pFRG).

Main Results:

  • The preBötzinger Complex (preBötC) is established as essential for normal respiratory rhythm generation and inspiratory activity across mammalian ages.
  • The retrotrapezoid/parafacial respiratory group (RTN/pFRG) is implicated in modulating breathing patterns, especially in neonatal and juvenile rodents, and may control active expiration.

Conclusions:

  • The preBötzinger Complex (preBötC) is a principal generator of the respiratory rhythm.
  • The retrotrapezoid/parafacial respiratory group (RTN/pFRG) plays a significant modulatory role and may act as a conditional oscillator for expiration.