◄    RESPIRATION     ►

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Understanding breathing involves much more than the mechanics of moving air in and out of the lungs.  It involves virtually every cell in the body.  The whole of us is breathing at all times.  We regulate our fundamental biochemistry, and the mindfulness (psychology) that accompanies it, through breathing.  In essence we breathe with our whole bodies, not just with our lungs.  We can conveniently, from a physiological perspective, divide respiration into three spheres of discourse:

 1. CELLULAR RESPIRATION:

 

  ● Cells create energy by breaking down adenosine triphosphate, ATP.


 ● Cellular respiration is the utilisation of O2 for the synthesis of ATP.


 ● Glucose (sugar) provides the energy required for O2 utilisation.

 

Click here to learn more about cellular respiration.
 

2. EXTERNAL RESPIRATION:


 ● It means transporting O2 from the atmosphere to the lungs.

 

 ● It means ensuring the diffusion of O2 into the pulmonary capillary bed.

 ● It means excreting CO2 into the lungs and transporting it to the atmosphere.

 

 ● It means ensuring proper reallocation of CO2 to arterial systemic blood.

    (It means healthy moment to moment acid-base regulation)
 
Click here to learn more about external respiration.


 3. INTERNAL RESPIRATION:


 ● It is about transporting O2, to the tissue cells from the lungs.


 ● It is about transporting CO2 from tissue cells to the lungs.


 ● It is about regulating acid-base (pH) physiology.

 

Click here to learn more about internal respiration.

 

Copyrighted by Behavioral Physiology Institute, Boulder, Colorado USA