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During inspiration, the chest cavity (volume) increases.

Unit 3 - Mechanism of Ventilation

GCSE Biology explains how breathing works, showing how the ribs, intercostal muscles and diaphragm move to draw air into the lungs and push it back out.

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Fascinating Fact:

During inhalation, the external intercostal muscles contract. This pulls the ribs upwards and outwards, increasing the volume of the chest cavity.

In GCSE Biology, the mechanism of ventilation describes how air moves in and out of the lungs. You study how coordinated movements of the ribs, intercostal muscles and diaphragm change chest volume and pressure to allow breathing.

Key Terms

Ventilation: The process of moving air into and out of the lungs so gas exchange can occur between the air in the alveoli and the blood.
Diaphragm: A dome-shaped sheet of muscle under the lungs that flattens during breathing in and relaxes during breathing out.
Intercostal muscles: Muscles found between the ribs that help change the size of the ribcage during breathing.

Frequently Asked Questions (click to see answers)

What is ventilation in GCSE Biology?

In GCSE Biology, ventilation is the movement of air into and out of the lungs. It is caused by changes in chest volume and pressure produced by the ribs and diaphragm.

How does breathing in differ from breathing out?

Breathing in involves increasing the volume of the chest so air is drawn into the lungs. Breathing out involves reducing chest volume so air is pushed out.

Why is the mechanism of ventilation important for gas exchange?

The mechanism of ventilation keeps fresh air reaching the alveoli and removes air rich in carbon dioxide, maintaining steep diffusion gradients for oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which of the following is another name for the chest?

Abdomen

Tummy

Thorax

Pharynx

The diaphragm marks the bottom of the thorax and divides the torso into upper part (thorax) and bottom part (abdomen)

2 .

During inspiration, the chest cavity (volume)...

increases

decreases

stays the same

increases then decreases

The external intercostal muscles contract and pull the rib cage up and out when we breathe in. The internal and innermost intercostal muscles are involved in expiration (breathing out)

3 .

When the chest volume increases, what happens to the pressure?

Decreases

Increases

Stays the same

Increases then decreases

Volume and pressure are inversely related. This means as one goes up, the other goes down. If volume increases then pressure decreases. During inspiration, chest volume increases, so pressure decreases which creates a pressure gradient. Air flows from a higher pressure to a lower pressure therefore in this case, air flows into the lungs

4 .

Name the special muscles found in the ribs which enable breathing.

Intercalated

Intercoastal

Intercostal

Intermediary

There are three types of intercostal muscle, external, internal and innermost

5 .

Oxygen passes across the alveolus and capillary walls into the blood by...

osmosis

diffusion

bus

active transport

There is a concentration gradient from alveolus to capillary. Oxygen is a small molecule capable of simple diffusion. Oxygen will be at a much higher concentration within the alveolus compared with the blood, so oxygen diffuses down the gradient

6 .

Another word for breathing in is...

expiration

respiration

excretion

inspiration

To inspire means to breathe in

7 .

The function of the rib cage is to protect the...

kidneys

brain

lungs

large intestine

Bones are found in mammals for protection, support of the body and to allow it to move

8 .

During expiration, the diaphragm...

flattens

moves up

stays the same

goes inside out

Movement of the diaphragm upwards makes the chest volume decrease, so the pressure increases and air leaves the lungs

9 .

Ventilation is...

expiration

getting air in and out

inspiration

getting waste in and out

Ventilation is an autonomous process. In other words, you don't have to think about it, it just happens

10 .

The large surface area of the lungs is due to lots of...

nephrons

villi

alveoli

cells

If you took all of the alveoli from an undamaged pair of human lungs it is said that they would cover the area of a tennis court

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - The respiratory system, breathing and respiration (CCEA)

Author: Donna Davidson (GCSE Biology Teacher & Examiner, Quiz Writer)

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