Download Breathing and respiration, what`s the difference?

BREATHING AND RESPIRATION - WHAT‘S THE DIFFERENCE?
There are two physiological terms connected with the breath: „breathing“ and „respiration“.
„Breathing“ refers to the movement of air in and out of the lungs and to the physical and
psychic experience of this movement. „Respiration“ refers to the transformation of oxygen
in the form of O2 into carbon dioxide and energy (Gr. en - within, ergon – work).
Breathing
The word „breath“ comes from the Old English and Old High German word for „vapour“,
„breath“ and „smell“. Breathing involves air flow, also called „ventilation“, to and from the
lungs through the air passages in the head and upper body, namely the nose, mouth,
throat, larynx, windpipe, bronchi and lungs.
The main muscle for breathing is the diaphragm. On an impulse from the respiratory
centres in the brain, the diaphragm contracts downwards with the inhale which allows air
to flow into the lungs. With the exhale, which occurs passively, the diagphragm releases
back upwards due to the elasticity of the lungs until it comes to a resting position where it
stays for the interval between breaths. „Diaphragm“ comes from the Greek word for
„partition“ as it separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity. It is attached to a
central tendon and spans from the lumbar spine to the lower parts of the ribcage. The
intercostal muscles, literally the muscles „between“ the „ribs“, support the movement of the
diaphragm. One can imagine the joint movement of the diaphragm and the intercostal
muscles in 3 D: jumping up and down on a trampoline, being pulled out and pushed in like
the bellows of an accordion and moving forwards and backwards on a swing
simultaneously.
Other muscles of the torso that facilitate breathing are accessory muscles that are
available for breathing challenges during physical exertion or during respiratory distress.
Respiration
The word „respiration“ comes from Latin and literally means „to breathe again“. One could
say that the O2 that has been inhaled is being breathed anew or that the O2 undergoes a
transformation that gives it new life.
As opposed to breathing, which involves an exchange between the exterior and the
interior of the body, respiration is solely an interior process. Respiration begins with the
diffusion of O2 from the small air sacks in the lungs called alveoli (Lat. alveolus - little
cavity) into the blood cells of the pulmonary circulation and from the blood cells into
different kinds of tissue, for example, muscle tissue. Inside the cells of a tissue O2
undergoes a series of transformations on a molecular level whereby energy is generated
and used or stored by the body. CO2 is a waste product of these transformations and is
partially exhaled and retained.
„To breathe again“ implies that respiration follows breathing, in other words, the quality of
breathing has a direct effect on respiration.
© Nicola Caroli 2014