Breathe
About the only time we take notice of breathing is when we can’t get air, or we are choking or drowning. Do you realize what miracle breathing is?
The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle underneath the lungs. The pleura are membranes around the lungs, with some pleura outside. There is a cavity which contains the lungs. Messages to the diaphragm and pleura to have the lungs deflate and inflate. When the diaphragm contracts, inhalation happens. As well, the ribs, that hold things in place, raise as the pleura stretches and the air pressure in the cavity lowers. The lungs follow the pleura as it stretches and sucks the ribs outward. As lungs stretch, air pressure is lowered in the lungs and air gets sucked into the lungs because the atmospheric pressure outside is higher than air pressure inside.
The oxygen inhaled is transferred to the blood and the C02 is transferred from the blood…a gift for a gift. As the diaphragm and muscles relax, we exhale an the pleura returns to its original shape. The lungs, stretched like a spring, recoil and air is squeezed out.
Oxygen is needed, the human breathing machine provides it. The inside of the boy has no way to get the oxygen. Every cell needs a continuous supply of it as oxygen is processed into energy from the food we eat. As well, the body needs to dispose of C02…a waste product of our energy machinations.
The air we offer our body is dirty, too warm, too cold and could cause harm. We have natural air conditioners in our upper airways and nasal cavities. Mucus membrane moistens and cleans the air we breathe in by trapping foreign objects. Blood cells close to the membrane surface warm the air. Folds make the air swirl before it goes down the throat and so the air is warmed and moistened before it gets to the lungs. In the next breath out, the warmth and moisture from the lungs is recaptured, reabsorbed and recycled.
It takes many miracles for this process to happen. How little we consider the act of breath. Could it be we are not taking notice of other things we do automatically, without thought…the things inside our bodies, our minds, our emotions, and our spirit? No wonder they tell us to meditate by concentrating on our breathing. It is Creation, breathing air that other’s have breathed. We are connected in the very air we breathe, to each other, to everything, and to Creator.
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