|
=== [[Korean War]] ===
{{otheruses}}{{Redirect5|Breathing|Greek diacritics|Diacritics (Greek alphabet)}}
I have been editing this article for a few days. I ran down through the article and fixed any grammer mistakes I could find. I would appreciate any suggestions on what to do and how I can really improve it further. Thanks a lot. [[User:Mr. Killigan|Mr. Killigan]] 06:17, 12 July 2007 (UTC)
'''Breathing''' transports [[oxygen]] into the body and [[carbon dioxide]] out of the body. [[Aerobic respiration|Aerobic]] [[organism]]s require oxygen to create energy via [[Cellular respiration|respiration]], in the form of energy-rich [[molecule]]s such as [[glucose]]. The medical term for normal relaxed breathing is eupnoea.
==== Kirill Lokshin ====
==Mechanics==
Breathing in, or inhaling, is usually an active movement, with the contraction of the [[diaphragm (anatomy)|diaphragm]] muscles needed. At rest, breathing out, or exhaling, is normally a passive process powered by the elastic recoil of the [[chest]], similar to a deflating balloon.
There are a number of areas to work on, at this point; keep in mind, though, that this is a very high-profile article, so you should be careful to move slowly and carefully to avoid getting entangled in any editorial conflicts here.
==Gas exchange==
* <s>The article is, in my opinion, simply too long; we're looking at 72K (~12,000 words) of prose. The "Legacy" section, in particular, is ripe for splitting out into a separate [[Legacy of the Korean War]] article, with a much shorter summary left in the main one.</s>
Breathing is only part of the process of delivering [[oxygen]] to where it is needed in the body. The process of [[gas exchange]] occurs in the [[alveoli]] by [[passive diffusion]] of gasses between the alveolar gas and the blood passing by in the [[lung]] [[capillaries]]. Once in the [[blood]], the [[heart]] powers the flow dissolved gasses around the body in the circulation.
* <s>"Korean War (1950 – 1953)" should really be something like "Course of the war"; you probably don't want to repeat the article title as a section heading.</s>
* The citations need cleanup; at a minimum, all of the embedded external links should be converted to footnotes. There are also a number of "citation needed" tags floating around. Beyond that, more thorough citation would be appropriate throughout the article; see [[WP:MILHIST#CITE]] for some guidelines.
* <s>The "Depictions" section should be turned into prose, rather than a laundry list of films; see also [[WP:MILHIST#POP]].</s>
* <s>The "Names" section, as it's presently constituted, would work much better as a narrow sidebar; it's of some interest, but I doubt there's enough material to sustain a separate section.</s>
* <s>The "See also" section should be eliminated. If something isn't worth linking from the text, it's generally not worth linking at all. </s>
* <s>The rump "Bibliography" section should be removed as well.</s>
* The "External links" section could use trimming.
Hope that helps! [[User:Kirill Lokshin|Kirill]] 04:08, 13 July 2007 (UTC)<s>cool</s>
::Thank you very much for offering your opinion! [[User:Mr. Killigan|Mr. Killigan]] 00:57, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
As well as [[carbon dioxide]], breathing also results in loss of [[water]] from the body. Exhaled air has a [[relative humidity]] of 100% because of water diffusing across the moist surface of breathing passages and alveoli.
==Control of breathing==
Breathing is one of the few bodily functions which, within limits, can be controlled both consciously and unconsciously. Conscious attention to breathing is common in many forms of meditation, specifically [[anapana]] and other forms of [[yoga]].
==Relationship to death==
Breath is sometimes used as a metaphor for life itself, and often "last breath" is the most obvious sign that [[death]] has occurred. The association between the end of life and breathing is not absolute, however. As modern treatment can now take over the process of breathing by mechanical ventilation, or [[cardiopulmonary resuscitation]] (CPR), breathing can be restarted if it stops. Because of this, modern deaths are now better defined in terms of [[brain]] dysfunction.
==Respiratory rate==
Humans typically breathe between 12 and 20 times per minute, with a cell.
==Composition of air==
The air we inhale is roughly 78% [[nitrogen]], 21% [[oxygen]] and 1% [[argon]], [[helium]], [[carbon dioxide]], and other [[gases]]. (% by volume)
Not all of the oxygen breathed in is converted into carbon dioxide, around 13% of what we breathe out is still oxygen, this is what makes resuscitation possible. Also our reliance on this relatively small amount of oxygen can cause overactivity or euphoria in pure or oxygen rich environments.
==Gas exchange==
The process of gas exchange occurs in the alveoli by passive diffusion of gasses between the alveolar gas and the blood passing by in the lung capillaries. Once in the blood, the heart powers the flow dissolved gasses around the body in the circulation.
==Cultural significance==
In [[Tai Chi Chuan]] [[aerobic training]] is combined with breathing to exercise the [[Thoracic diaphragm | diaphram muscles]], and to train effective posture, which both make better use of the bodies energy. In music, breath is used to play wind instrument wind instruments and many [[aerophones]]. [[Laughter]], physically, is simply repeated sharp breaths. [[Hiccups]] and [[yawn]]s are other breath-related phenomena.
==Control of breathing==
Specialized centers in the [[brainstem]] automatically regulate the rate and depth of breathing depending on the body’s needs at any time. When carbon dioxide levels increase in the blood, it reacts with the water in blood, producing carbonic acid. The drop in the blood's [[pH]] will then cause the [[medulla oblongata]] signalling centre in brain to send nerve impulses to the [[diaphragm]] and the [[intercostal muscles]], increasing the rate of breathing. While exercising, the level of carbon dioxide in the blood increases due to increased [[cellular respiration]] by the [[muscle]]s, and so breathing rate increases. During rest, the level of carbon dioxide is lower, so breathing rate is lower. This ensures an appropriate amount of oxygen is delivered to the muscles and other organs. This automatic control of respiration can be impaired in [[premature babies]], or by drugs or disease.
It is not possible for a healthy person to voluntarily stop breathing. If we do not inhale, the level of carbon dioxide builds up in our blood, and we experience overwhelming air hunger. This irrepressible reflex is not surprising given that without breathing, the body's internal oxygen levels drop dangerously low within minutes, leading to permanent brain damage followed eventually by death.
If a healthy person were to voluntarily stop breathing (ie. hold his or her breath) for a certain amount of time, he or she would lose [[consciousness]], but the body will resume breathing on its own.
The buildup of carbon dioxide making the blood acidic is what makes one desperate for a breath rather than lack of oxygen. [[Hyperventilating]] causes an influx of oxygen that lowers blood acidity to trick the brain into thinking it has more oxygen.
==References==
<references/>
* {{cite journal | author=Parkes M | title=Breath-holding and its breakpoint. | journal=Exp Physiol | volume=91 | issue=1 | pages=1-15 | year=2006 | id=PMID 16272264}} ''[http://ep.physoc.org/cgi/content/full/91/1/1 Full text]''
Yellowcard Breathing, a song from the Yellowcard album "Ocean Avenue"
== See also ==
* [[Agonal breathing]]
* [[Cheyne-Stokes respiration]]
* [[Biot's respiration]]
* [[Mouth breathing]]
* [[Pneuma]]
* [[Prana]]
* [[Qi]]
* [[Respiratory rate]]
* [[Spirit]]
* [[Halitosis]]
{{Respiratory physiology}}
[[Category:Respiration]]
[[Category:Reflexes]]
[[bg:Дишане]]
[[cs:Dýchání]]
[[de:Atem]]
[[fr:Respiration]]
[[it:Respirazione]]
[[jbo:vasxu]]
[[mk:Дишење]]
[[nl:Ademhaling]]
[[pl:Oddychanie]]
[[ru:Дыхание]]
[[sk:Dýchanie]]
[[fi:Hengitys]]
[[yi:אטעם]]
Yellowcard Breathing, a song from the Yellowcard album "Ocean Avenue"
| 