Breathing

Breathing is the process by which the body takes in oxygen and expels carbon dioxide, essential gases for survival. When you inhale, your diaphragm and chest muscles expand your lungs, drawing in air through your nose or mouth. Inside the lungs, oxygen passes into the blood, while carbon dioxide is removed from the blood and exhaled. This exchange supports cellular function and maintains the body's acid-base balance. Breathing is controlled automatically by the brain, but you can also consciously influence it, such as during deep breathing or speaking.