NEETZoologyBreathing and Exchange of Gases
What causes expiration?
Options
- AIncrease in intra-pulmonary pressure
- BDecrease in atmospheric pressure
- CIncrease in atmospheric pressure
- DDecrease in intra-pulmonary pressure
Correct answer
A. Increase in intra-pulmonary pressure
Step-by-step solution
The contraction of external inter-costal muscles lifts up the ribs and the sternum causing an increase in the volume of the thoracic chamber in the dorso-ventral axis.The overall increase in the thoracic volume causes a similar increase in pulmonary volume. An increase in pulmonary volume decreases the intra-pulmonary pressure to less than the atmospheric pressure which forces the air from outside to move into the lungs, i.e., inspiration Relaxation of the diaphragm and the inter-costal muscles returns the diaphrag