How the Lungs Work - How Your Body Controls Breathing
The body’s muscles and nervous system help control your breathing. The lungs are like sponges; they cannot move on their own. Muscles in your chest and abdomen contract, or tighten, to create space in your lungs for air to flow in. The muscles then relax, causing the space in the chest to get smaller and squeeze the air back out. Your breathing usually does not require any thought, because it is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, also called the involuntary nervous system.
Media Type: Html
- SourceUrl: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/subscribe/4462
- Syndication ID: 18863
- Language: English
- Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- Date Syndication Captured: Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 04:43 PM
- Date Syndication Updated: Thursday, July 09, 2026 at 04:58 AM
Tags
General:
prevention
policy
cessation
secondhand smoke
respiratory system
Smoking Use and Tobacco Facts
Quitting Resources
Guidance, Regulations and Compliance
Prevent Smoking and Tobacco Use
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