Human Breathing Model
Explore the mechanics of human breathing with a simple, interactive model. This simulation demonstrates how the diaphragm and lungs work together to facilitate the intake and expulsion of air.
Help & Instructions
â–¼- Start the Simulation: Click on the diaphragm to model inhalation and exhalation.
- Observe the Changes: Watch how the balloons (lungs) change size as the diaphragm moves.
- Quiz Challenge: Answer questions about the model and its relation to human anatomy.
- Describe the key components of the human breathing system.
- Explain the roles of the diaphragm, lungs, and rib cage in breathing.
- Understand the principle of pressure changes in the chest cavity.
- Differentiate between inhalation and exhalation.
Breathing Mechanics Simulator
Click on the diaphragm to make it move.
Quiz Challenge: Breathing Concepts
Which part of the model represents the lungs?
This simple model helps visualize the pressure-volume relationship in the thoracic cavity during breathing. The plastic bottle represents the chest cavity, the balloons represent the lungs, and the rubber sheet at the bottom represents the diaphragm. The glass or plastic Y-tube represents the trachea and bronchi.
The Mechanics of Breathing
During inhalation, the diaphragm **contracts and moves downward**. This increases the volume of the chest cavity. The increase in volume causes a decrease in pressure inside the cavity, pulling air from the outside into the lungs (balloons) which then inflate.
During exhalation, the diaphragm **relaxes and moves upward** to its original dome shape. This decreases the volume of the chest cavity. The decrease in volume causes an increase in pressure, forcing the air out of the lungs (balloons) and into the atmosphere.
The core principle at play here is **Boyle's Law**, which states that for a fixed amount of gas, pressure and volume are inversely proportional. As volume increases (diaphragm moves down), pressure decreases, and as volume decreases (diaphragm moves up), pressure increases. This pressure difference is what drives the movement of air during breathing.
