Chest breathing and belly breathing and normal breathing

Question

Hello:

I am very confused here. 

when a human breathes he use both intercostal muscles and Diaphragm muscle to change the volume of the lungs and this happens with help of the medulla (breathing center ).

but the book states that we use either belly breathing ( that only uses Diaphragm muscle) or chest breathing ( that only uses intercostal muscles) .... is that wrong because the breathing mechanism uses both intercostal muscles and Diaphragm muscle at the same time?????

 

one more thing I understand breathing with help of the autonomic nervous system which means that intercostal muscles and Diaphragm muscle is controlled (involuntary) by the breathing center that sends its signal by the autonomic nervous system. Is that right???

if that is right... how can we stop Diaphragm muscles from moving while breathing as chest breathing ... and we can stop intercostal muscles from moving while breathing as belly breathing???

 

Okay, I understand that both intercostal muscles and Diaphragm muscles are skeletal muscles which means they can be controlled voluntarily by CNS using the somatic nervous system. but can the somatic nervous system overlord the autonomic nervous system????

 

How many types of breathing are there ??? is it three or two mechanisms???

Here is link for what I am talking about :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqkMzds77f8

 

Thanks 

Answer 1

I am very confused here. 

when a human breathes he use both intercostal muscles and Diaphragm muscle to change the volume of the lungs and this happens with help of the medulla (breathing center ).

but the book states that we use either belly breathing ( that only uses Diaphragm muscle) or chest breathing ( that only uses intercostal muscles) .... is that wrong because the breathing mechanism uses both intercostal muscles and Diaphragm muscle at the same time?????

ANSWER: You use both, but at different times, and for different reasons. For instance: you have a base rate (basial respiratory rate). That is usually belly breathing.

Then you have a rate if you are trying to get rid of CO2 (chemoreceptors). This is fast breathing. (It also hyper oxygenates you, too, and decreases your acidity, so, it can make you dizzy). This works also with H+ (acidic) and is actually handled the same way (CO2 is acidic, so they usually happen in concert).

(NOTE: Usually CO2, high acidity and low O2 levels go together. When they don't, this system can get messed up!)

This would happen with exercise. Most breathing is based on CO2, then H+, with O2 being the least influential (FUN FACT: With COPD patients, they can't get rid of CO2 fast enough - lungs don't move very well, so no expiratory quickening - their bodies convert over to using O2 for signaling breathing rate. In healthy people, CO2 is the signal). Intercostal muscles are involved with breathing associated with trying to clear high CO2 or acidic levels in the blood (fast).

NOTE: if you're going into the medical field, one of the signs for severe shortness of breath/respiratory distress (i.e., blocked airway) is intercostal retraction, meaning they are sucking in so hard, the air pressure on the outside of their chest, pushes into between the ribs, and above the collar bone. This is most useful in babies and children, as they are usually skinny. Adults may be too obese to see this phenomenon.

But, of course, we can voluntarily breath, namely because we need to use the air to communicate, i.e., Talking. In this action, we can use both the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.

What dictates which is voluntary and which is involuntary? Think of it this way: you have a base rate. It will happen no matter what (unless you hold your breath, and then you pass out ... in which case you will start breathing again, involuntarily). If chemoreceptors tell your lungs to breath fast (getting rid of CO2) you WILL breath fast. If your body does not need to get rid of CO2 or H+, or need oxygen, = base rate.

However, if you start talking, you may mess up the pattern, and you will end up breathing weird. Singers actually have to plan breaths PRIOR to performing a piece, as they require oxygen!

 

one more thing I understand breathing with help of the autonomic nervous system which means that intercostal muscles and Diaphragm muscle is controlled (involuntary) by the breathing center that sends its signal by the autonomic nervous system. Is that right???

Yes. We can both not control AND control our breathing.

if that is right... how can we stop Diaphragm muscles from moving while breathing as chest breathing ... and we can stop intercostal muscles from moving while breathing as belly breathing???

You can't. Easy enough answer, right?

I think you are getting confused. So, lets simplify this: if you breath you will use the diaphragm. Sometimes you also use intercostal muscles. All breathing uses the diaphragm, not all breathing uses intercostal muscles.

 

Okay, I understand that both intercostal muscles and Diaphragm muscles are skeletal muscles which means they can be controlled voluntarily by CNS using the somatic nervous system. but can the somatic nervous system overlord the autonomic nervous system????

Yes. We do so all the time.

 

How many types of breathing are there ??? is it three or two mechanisms???

Voluntary (can use just diaphragm or both ICM and Diaphragm); involuntary (can use diaphragm or both ICM & Diaphragm).

Things that can trigger breathing: CO2, H+, and O2, as well as conscious need (talking, singing, whistling, playing a flute), unconscious: coughing, adrenergic response [fight or flight], sympathetic response; sexual pleasure [involuntary moan .. hey, it's an example!], yelling "ouch!" when you stub your toe; laughing, crying, vomiting (intercostal muscles), pain, getting punched in the stomach, seizure, rapid heart rate, etc. Basically, anything that can cause an excess in CO2, H+, or a derth of O2 or increase O2 need (or trick our bodies into thinking we need it or don't need it), or can cause sympathetic stimulation, movement, or trigger/damage the nerves (peripheral or central) will cause those muscles to trigger (or not trigger).

Fun Fact: Basial breathing is not perfect... did you ever notice every once and a while, you just randomly take a deep breath? Yeah, your CO2 balance was just slightly out of whack, and that deep breath fixed it. (Intercostal muscles ENGAGE!)

Answer 2

Hi Mohamad,

I sense a bit of panic here...take a deep breath. Seriously.

If you did as I asked, then you already have the answer to this question:

 ...can the somatic nervous system overlord the autonomic nervous system????

Regardless of what breathing pattern you were in, you consciously changed it.

According to (https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_General_Biology_(Boundless)/39%3A_The_Respiratory_System/39.3%3A_Breathing/39.3B%3A_Types_of_Breathing), there are four basic types of breathing:

Eupnea is normal quiet breathing that requires contraction of the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles.

Diaphragmatic breathing requires contraction of the diaphragm and is also called deep breathing.

Costal breathing requires contraction of the intercostal muscles and is also called shallow breathing.

Hyperpnea is forced breathing and requires muscle contractions during both inspiration and expiration such as contraction of the diaphragm, intercostal muscles, and accessory muscles.

Hyperpnea is the breathing that you have to most control over. How much control we have over our involuntary responses varies. But think of singers using breathing to control their voice, free divers who can control their breathing for extended periods of time, or yogis and martial artists who also use forms of breath control in their practice.

The video you shared (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqkMzds77f8) is talking almost exclusively about the autonomic nervous system (ANS) controlling breathing. It alludes to the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic systems controlling breathing as well. I say this because it only treats breathing as controlled by the brainstem (medulla and pons).

The brainstem is the oldest part of our brain, the part we share with other vertebrates. It handles survival. We don't need to think about it. We keep breathing even when our conscious minds are not aware (sleep, coma, brain death). Try holding your breath. Keep holding it..... When your body begins fighting you for control of your breathing, that is your ANS working to ensure your survival. More specifically, it;s your Sympathetic system- the one that controls fight or flight. Your Parasympathetic system is the one that brings the deep, restfull breathing (eupnea) of sleep.

Our answers so far:

1. Yes, you can consciously control or override the ANS for breathing, at least for a while
2. There are four types of breathing (eupnea, diaphragmatic, costal, hyperpnea)

As for your textbook being wrong, I would have to see it in context. I guess that make the answer a Maybe.

Does this help?