Final answer:
Respiration involves inhaling and exhaling, facilitated by the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Respiration is a biological process where air is inhaled and exhaled, facilitating gas exchange within the lungs. This process comprises two main phases: inspiration (inhalation) and expiration (exhalation). Boyle's law plays a crucial role in the mechanics of breathing, illustrating how changes in volume can affect air pressure within the lungs. During inhalation, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, increasing the chest cavity's volume and subsequently decreasing air pressure inside the lungs, causing air to rush in. Conversely, expiration is characterized by the relaxation of these muscles, resulting in a decreased volume and an increased pressure that pushes air out. Lungs' elastic properties, much like balloons, allow for this expansion and contraction, which is essential to the breathing process.
Example of Boyle's Law in Respiration
As an illustrative example of Boyle's law, when a person breathes in deeply, their lung volume increases significantly. This increased volume leads to a corresponding decrease in pressure, which allows more air to enter the lungs. In contrast, a forceful exhalation decreases lung volume, causing a rise in pressure that expels air rapidly.