With a bottle, balloon, straw, glove, and clay students were able to demonstration how the air pressure difference created by the diaphragm contracting and expanding actually causes the lungs to inflate! It is all about air pressure and that amazing diaphragm muscle!
Below is an exaggerated diagram to show the difference in air pressure.
Notice that when the lungs inhale their are more particles outside because the diaphragm moves down spreading out the particles inside. Air "wants" to come through the trachea to even out the air pressure. The opposite happens when the diaphragm relaxes in an upside-down u shape. (pushing the air particles close together.) Check out this animation from OregonStateVetMed on You Tube of what happens in your body.
Now, check out the one we made!
Something to think about: How is the respiratory system connected to the circulatory system?
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