The Hidden Physics Behind Your Breath

You breath all the time, whether you think about it or not. But how does that even work? And what is breathing for? Patrick’s got all the answers to your oxygen-deprived questions in this episode. And yeah, there’s physics involved.
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So far, we’ve discussed blood a lot in this series, but take a deep breath in and exhale because in this episode we are exploring the respiratory system.
Breathing is one of the few things we do continuously, every day, without thinking about it.
Our bodies, like other vertebrates, depend on oxygen to run our normal aerobic metabolisms. And though some of our bodily processes happen without oxygen, we still need to burn some oxygen in order to really take advantage of the food we eat. Meaning at some point, we need to start pulling oxygen from the air and depositing it into our red blood cells.
And this biological process really depends on nothing other than good old physics. Those ideal gas laws you might have learned in high school? Dalton’s law? We see a beautiful example of them in the simple act of taking a breath.
Find out more about all the hardware involved in breathing; why oxygen is so important; and how we pluck it from the air around us in this Human.
#breathing #lungs #respiratory #health #human #seeker #physics #science
Read More:
How the Lungs Work
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topi...
“Your lungs are a pair of pyramid-shaped organs inside your chest that allow your body to take in oxygen from the air. They have a spongy texture and are pinkish-gray in color. The lungs bring oxygen into the body when breathing in and send carbon dioxide out of the body when breathing out. Carbon dioxide is a waste gas produced by the cells of the body.”
Respiratory System: Our Avenue for Gas Exchange
www.livescience.com/22616-res...
“The human respiratory system is a series of organs responsible for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. The primary organs of the respiratory system are the lungs, which carry out this exchange of gases as we breathe.”
Anatomy of the Respiratory System
www.urmc.rochester.edu/encycl...
“The lungs take in oxygen. The cells of your body's cells need oxygen to live and carry out their normal functions. The lungs also get rid of carbon dioxide, a waste product of the cells.”
____________________
This Seeker health miniseries will dive deep into the cellular structures, human systems, and overall anatomy that work together to keep our bodies going. Using the visual structure and quick pacing of Seeker’s Sick series, these human bio-focused episodes will give a new audience an inside look on what’s happening inside all of us.
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[@Seeker]

Hi Seekers, thanks for watching! For more Human, check out our playlist here: bit.ly/HUMANplaylist

[@staycurious2242]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIfTo6WaoNp_bJo When agriculture cause pollution. Plz do share and support our channel.

[@LarryPanozzo]

Have you considered renaming your channel? You guys are great, but “Seeker” used to be a term Discovery was using here on KZbin and it meant far more than just loving science. Here is Jason Silva describing it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGq1o4qspJ6omdk

[@staycurious2242]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIfTo6WaoNp_bJo. AGRICULTURE-your WORST NIGHTMARE . Plz do share and subscribe.

[@abueleaslinkon263]

Its a WOW series you're making .... Best of the Bests !!! Thanks a Lot for the wonderful playlist !!! We need more .... Please !!!

[@artcurious807]

Looking forward to the next episode. Apparently several years ago certain government labs found a way to aerosolize hormones. you can literally spray people wit them.

[@ravensinger5029]

If your lungs are full of ravioli, you're in serious trouble.

[@samuraijack2857]

Ravioli ravioli what's in the lungioli

[@theshuman100]

ravioli ravioli there goes my aevioli

[@TheExoplanetsChannel]

:O

[@KenTheAdventurer]

Thus ravioli isn't healthy

[@ravensinger5029]

@@KenTheAdventurer I don't know about that... they just belong in the stomach and not the lungs.... probably.

[@petercarioscia9189]

Oh fantastic, now I'm thinking about breathing. And getting light headed from taking deep breaths

[@OSKESIS]

We love this new guy!!!!!! U dare not replace him Seeker !!! U dare not!!!! God bless ur team for such info

[@anatine_banana_69]

THE FALLACY HUNTER yeah. Slightly reminds me of Trace

[@Avocotter]

Aww, I miss Trace. This guy is great, though, and easy on the eyes *le swoon*

[@maccharles7451]

Eddie Contreras what is le swoon

[@niki123489]

This video was breathtaking!

[@piece4phil]

youre breath taking

[@sanjit8213]

Thank you, seeker, for explaining one of the complex topics of lungs and physics.

[@arvindiyer1649]

Dang! I needed this for my bio exam today. The exact same things in my textbook but explained in a much more fun way. I can totally relate and connect to this. Thank you Seeker!

[@ag135i]

I really like the explanation by this person it's clear and understandable.

[@yashspr]

Awesome. Eagerly waiting for the next one!!

[@darkenergy7291]

The things you make are so great! I want to show these in class for students to learn better! :D

[@trrrmac]

Dark Energy what if dose same students already watch this

[@darkenergy7291]

@@trrrmac real possibility.

[@asvarien]

I suffer anxiety a lot which often brings with it awareness of one's breathing and as soon as you are aware of it you have to start doing it consciously.

[@poofy2404]

I understand I have this 🥺how are u now?

[@Kbax3614]

breathing is not scary. it is much safer than you think so your lungs aint gonna explode or sth.

[@clyderomijn4058]

For 9 minutes and 18 seconds I couldn't stop thinking about how to breath

[@r0bi100]

mindfulness meditation

[@hugeturd42]

im wayy too high for this dont remind me to breathe all the time

[@Joebrobra]

Felt that bro

[@forestsland]

Thanks alot!

[@zygon8685]

Great educational video

[@jishaangulati2440]

Awesome explanation

[@TheDriesvr1]

thank you. i'm a teacher and this realy helps me becouse i need to teach how our body breathes so thanks alot!

[@Perspectologist]

I really like this series. It is very well done.

[@TheFinktron]

I love your series. One thing I want to mention on this episode. I know you are limited on time, but you did not mention the importance of the intercostal muscles working with the diaphragm. My daughter was born without skeletal muscle, so she had no intercostal. She used her stomach to assist the diaphragm, making her a “belly breather.” Because she would tire very easily, she was on a ventilator at night to help her rest.

[@ll-ht7mb]

i love this chanel .. damn

[@waheguruwaheguru9176]

Awesome animation 🌴 & explaination 👌 TKS 🙏

[@SilhSe]

This video is simply breath taking 🥺

[@creationfied]

this is informative

[@RicardoDizonLefthanded]

It's amazing observing you talking while breathing.

[@espeon753]

He is such a pleasure to listen to... and to look at ☺️

[@harshbandodkar5833]

Best explanation bro

[@indubalaji3925]

Hi Seeker, can you explain the correct way to breath and the science behind during a workout. Thanks in advance. Would really appreciate!

[@floatingisland544]

That was an interesting watch! I hope you will do a video about iron soon. Tell us exactly what happens when you have too little and when you have too much.

[@Noneblue39]

great video!

[@user-gd5yt2gn6r]

Thank you very much. good

[@ferdelamonja]

Hi what happens in your body when you are inhaling and exhaling only through your nose vs. when you inhale with nose and exhale with mouth?

[@aguirre1982]

An episode on what happens to our body when we go scuba diving please? How come our internal organs still function underwater with all that difference in external pressure? Thanks!

[@hoezhiwan]

Silly question but at the last part about partial pressure. I don't quite understand, won't our body rid of the carbon dioxide entirely, so that means our body constantly have carbon dioxide left even after breathing it out? I thought carbon dioxide is toxic though. Sorry if this is stupid

[@aayush_789]

My lungs became more important to me after I got pneumothorax three weeks ago.

[@AmberAmber]

Oh no!! Hope ur feeling better mate!

[@romeoespina2736]

Especially when you were hooked to bottles filled with water.

[@justdoit83388]

This whoooole video got me focused on my breathing

[@JosePineda-cy6om]

Octopodes, squid and the other cephalopods have a 3-heart circulatory system to increase the pressure of blood before it arrives to their branchiae, which serve as their pulmonary equivalent. Since liquids are basically uncompressable, does this change the way their gaseous exchange work? What about simpler creatures like oysters? I'd really, really like to know how respiration works for aquatic animals

[@heliumhead4893]

7:58 Please let this be a normal field trip.

[@user-lp9vz6lu3t]

thats why in yoga kumbhak breath retention is focused after various other pranayama with retention oxygen stays much longer

[@TyrantZeii]

Thanks, for the whole video I was manually breathing

[@tradingespanol5384]

Omg I love my body sooo much!! It's amazing!!!

[@harshityashwardhan]

@seker make a video on evolution of eye... From photoreceptor in bacteria to most complex eye

[@ayamgeprekmurah]

Dang it ! Beautiful explanation 💪

[@jugzster]

The human body is amazing. Bill Bryson’s book on the body gave me a lot more appreciation for it. Don’t take it for granted!

[@robinbotland6595]

Could someone explain why it matters what the partial pressure is? I mean why does the partial pressure matter and not the 'total' pressure?

[@pi1392]

I lol'd so hard when he said that first line. he knew i knew it.

[@sebastianelytron8450]

Fun fact: You can't breathe through your nose while smiling. Of course you can, I just wanted to make you smile. 😃

[@PedramNG]

That's a good pick-up line 👌😂😂

[@strengthhonour8594]

I think you breathe with your mouth while smiling.

[@thatkidflossy2792]

thank you

[@stefansauvageonwhat-a-twis1369]

You dare

[@digitalbread4574]

Haha hell yeah 😅 I was like WTH! That was a good one.

[@bugattiboy253]

I love how this video came out the night before my medical school exam on the respiratory system, great simplified overview with some awesome visualizations you just don't get in class. Thank you Seeker!

[@RoXon007]

Good video

[@ericpham4011]

can elecronic assist help human breath underwater without need of accesorry and if that possible the future stomach is not meeded because the nutricient can goes directly to blood

[@dallebull]

How can o2 just have a Carbon atom attached to it and turned to co2 when "consumed"? If the cell just could ge rid of the extra carbon and resuse the O2, that would be more efficient, or is the o2 needed to get rid of the waste carbon atom?

[@romeoespina2736]

Maybe its also needed for other processes like the buffer system and thermoregulation. Also the body maybe cant process the splitting of carbon from the o2 or requires a lot of energy. Too much carbon could increase carbonic acid which would result into acidosis.

[@Nastyace2012]

I was conscious about my breathing patterns the whole video. Made me really uncomfortable.

[@EggEnjoyer]

You're even thinking about it now, 5 hours after posting your comment and reading mine

[@negative.infinity]

I tried cutting out my addiction to oxygen and stopped breathing this chemical. But that's when my memory gets a bit foggy, and I passed out. When I woke up, I was back on the stuff. 😖

[@FaizanAli-op2xe]

Need to explain more about the working of the membrane in between alveoli and capillaries. How does only oxygen and co2 pass through the membrane?How does it keep out Nitrogen and other gases in the air?

[@niki123489]

partial pressure

[@FaizanAli-op2xe]

niki123489 Thanks. Got it.

[@prdiludi4432]

Not sure if meditating gonna become easier or harder after this knowledge.

[@nandhasaran]

*thanks for reminding me to breathe*

[@AmberAmber]

I love science... but this kinda gave me an anxiety attack. I *think* I don't want to think too much about Symp. & Parasymp. Autonomic Functions... thanks for the knowledge however - just gotta try to forget it now❤

[@sebastianelytron8450]

Are you okay lmao

[@AmberAmber]

@@sebastianelytron8450 aww you're so sweet! I'm feeling better. I have a progressive heart disease & if I think about bodily systems - particularly aerobic? I panic. I didn't know this stuff & I started thinking about my diaphragm saying, "Eff this"... I'll be ok though💕🤪😁😍👍

[@niki123489]

knowledge is never too much. I have Asthma though.

[@AmberAmber]

@@niki123489 I'm so sorry about that 😥

[@mayank5636]

Osm I love it!!!

[@raneeshafernando2837]

Question 🙋🏻‍♂️ our tissues absorb O2 from the blood which is transferred from the alveoli after absorbing it how does CO2 is emitted as a byproduct and where does this carbon come from ?

[@blackcoffee9470]

Conversion of glucose absorbed from food into ATP, I guess. Read on the Kreb's cycle. You'll understand things more.

[@siddharth6505]

Can you please do a video on diseases caused by viruses. Given the recent out break of corona virus, Ebola and so on.

[@Seeker]

Hi there! Stay tuned, we have some videos on both coronavirus and Ebola in the works, but until then, check out our SICK episode on measles here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGqqeZewbs6Fgbc and for even more videos on diseases and how they work inside our bodies check out our SICK playlist: bit.ly/SICKplaylist. Thanks for watching!

[@Yathuprem]

What happens to the nitrogen?

[@tanta1519]

It's there, but your cells don't use it for anything, so there's no net flow of nitrogen in or out of the body. It's possible to have too much nitrogen diffused in the blood though, like if you go scuba diving for a long time, or if you're an astronaut preparing for a space walk.

[@asvarien]

Why does the act of breathing i.e. respiration share the same name with the biochemistry of energy generation i.e. respiration?

[@devynwiggins2362]

Him: breathing is one of the things we least think about me coming to this video because I was thinking about myself breathing 😂

[@Qman621]

To expand a bit, hemoglobin changes affinity between CO2 and O2 based on the amount of O2 attached and the temperature. So hot muscles will lower the affinity for O2; dumping O2 where it is needed, and then pick up waste CO2 and makes its way back to the lungs where the increased O2 gradient causes the CO2 to switch places with O2.

[@alisjemarx9871]

Hi if you breath O2 then why do you exhale CO2 = carbon + the O2 the just inhale then your body did not use ANY O2 to begin with.

[@Qman621]

​@@alisjemarx9871 You're body makes energy by breaking down hydrocarbons and produces energy as a byproduct. For instance, cells break down sugar like this: C6H12O6(Sugar)+6O2 -> 6CO2+6H2O+Energy The oxygen isn't created or destroyed, it just changes form and a byproduct of the chemical reaction that changes O2 into CO2 makes excess energy in the form of free electrons that are captured by the body and turned into a molecule of ATP which your cells can than use directly to power various functions like ion pumps.

[@alisjemarx9871]

Thanx that make more since

[@SahilP2648]

Btw I have a high RBC count than normal. Does that mean I have better oxygen management? Meaning if my blood can get more oxygen to the cells naturally so that effects my breathing as well? Any doctors here who can shed some light on this?

[@pierrebeauregard5369]

could shortness of breath be a side effect of high blood pressure?

[@user-qy1pu7qw2n]

I had to switch my breathing from automatic to manual while watching this video.

[@zedeon6299]

Thank you seeker now I have to breathe manually

[@steamstories1279]

Does breathing stops if you remove the brain ? Make another video regarding this.

[@gonderage]

lowkey sad that you didnt cover the blood oxygen dissociation curve or bohr effect. it's another complicated process of physics, yes, but it addresses the question of how haemoglobin binds to oxygen and how oxygen is released from it into the cells.

[@junedkhan2878]

Biology: Interesting Chemistry: OK Physics: The Bully

[@stirchronic]

WHAT A CHAD

[@ChedMoLi]

Sir, does that mean other gases aside from oxygen are also transported to the tissues?

[@TheJewelnok]

I would prefer to get a bit more in depth about the subject of blood and cell operations internally.

[@EverythingScience]

Basically every little thing in your life is way more complicated than anyone of us will ever understand

[@mz-pd5hw]

"breathing has nothing to do with sucking air in our squeezing air out", that's exactly what you described and physics ALWAYS have to do with anatomy and biology and computing and videos and your clothes. Sucking is making a low pressure cavity and squeeze is literally increase the pressure of something.

[@mr.personhumanson6871]

I'm constantly thinking about breeding

[@Blueblaze180]

When I'm sleep paralyzed it feels like I have to try twice as hard to breathe

[@Ice.muffin]

Ok this os the first time I think I heard myself being compared to a tree with leaves... interesting enough ^^'.

[@SnoopyDoofie]

I don't breathe. I recycle my farts.

[@ajeethkumar3569]

Woww❤️❤️

[@firestormv91]

So there is another world of complex mechanisms that help function our body. It is so weird that we don't know anything about those inside mechanisms.

[@philsophkenny]

👍

[@josephjeon804]

Thought itd be more interesting than this. I learned half this stuff in grade 8

[@swapnilrajkhowa]

Corona after entering human body: let's hijack the whole respiratory system.

[@MNightbirb]

All I know about my breath is that it smells like coffee Maybe it's because I drink too much coffee...I dunno man...

[@fundemort]

You smell your own breath?

[@TheExoplanetsChannel]

Oh

[@newscientificnews6501]

hidden? we learned this in biology class

[@RogerThings]

All about balance 😊

[@motorolaandroid5688]

Manual breathing engaged... Thank you >=(

[@Zed86zz]

why does oxygen enter the bloodstream but not nitrogen? assuming the partial pressure of nitrogen inside the blood is probably a lot lower than in the lungs.

[@AMBATUKAM11111]

What. Physics is literally everything

[@whitehawk5]

its like am revising my biology class from years ago, wish this was available back then

[@sassyshawnie558]

* When a KZbin channel tells you the difference between knowledge and education * me: intelligent . You are the best @Seeker

[@SHAKILAHMED-wf9si]

Diaphragmatic breathing is key to a full breath: shakil.substack.com/p/breathe-it-out

[@danlewis1871]

Hemoglobin! I just knew it!

[@romagluskin5133]

Thanks for the explanation! One question though - isn't the logic of "partial pressure" valid also for the Nitrogen and other molecules in the air ? Why does only oxygen come through ?

[@matthewhedge8955]

Crap now I’m breathing manually agin

[@suppanya]

I have corona and right now i can't breathe

[@Thuhglegend27]

Same

[@micromelis]

Those graphics have me sitting here imagining inhaling and exhaling everything in McDonald’s PlayPlace.

[@jacobhuff3748]

I don't know about you but in my zombification, I have mastered anaerobic respiration.

[@jupersan]

And what happens with the hydrogen in the air when they get to the alvioli?