Help with Lower Respiratory Physiology
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Anatomy › Help with Lower Respiratory Physiology
Contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles during inspiration causes what type of pressure change within the pleural space (area outside the lungs but within the chest cavity)?
Negative pressure change
Positive pressure change
No change in pressure
More information is needed to answer the question
Becomes more positive
Explanation
The correct answer is a negative pressure change within the pleural space. When the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, they expand the chest cavity creating a higher volume of space within the pleural space. As volume within this space increased, the pressure responds by decreasing. This drop in pressure within the pleural space causes air from outside the body (high pressure) to low pressure (within the chest and the lungs).