Breathing allows us to eliminate toxic carbon dioxide from our bodies while supplying our heart and lungs with oxygen that is necessary for cellular respiration and the generation of energy necessary for an organism to function. Cellular respiration is the process of using glucose (from food) and oxygen (from breathing) into a high-energy molecule known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is usable by cells. We breathe so that oxygen is able to penetrate the depths of our lungs and enter the bloodstream so that it is available for the cells to use to generate energy.

Breathing is a fundamental process of the body. Naturally, it is an involuntary function that is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. However, respiration itself is an active process since it requires the contraction of thoracic (chest) muscles such as the external intercostal muscles and the diaphragm (lower band-like muscle of the respiratory system). As multicellular organisms we have conscious control over our skeletal muscles, and thus we are able to exercise control of our own breathing regardless of the body’s involuntary capability to breathe on its own.

Any system where there is a constant exchange of matter and energy from the surrounding environment is called an open system. This makes the human body itself an open system because there is a continuous input of essentials such as oxygen and water as well as output of carbon dioxide and waste. Essential inputs and outputs also include the body’s specific responses (via afferent neurons) to stimuli (as perceived by sensory neurons).

Here we learn about why we breathe and how we breathe.

Breathing is a fundamental process of the body. It allows us to eliminate toxic carbon dioxide from our bodies while supplying our heart and lungs with oxygen that is necessary for cellular respiration and the generation of energy necessary for an organism to function.

With over 7 individual organ systems functioning to perform different duties in the human body, one system is necessary to oversee that overall functioning is projected in a positive direction. This is a responsibility of the nervous system.

The human mind is like an iceberg with three distinct realms: the conscious, subconscious and the unconscious. The three realms have different contents and different roles. The structure of the mind gives rise to an important question:

Which of the three realms of the mind is critical for our mental health?

A rapid answer from the top of our heads to this question is of course the conscious. Isn't our  mental health dependent on the state of our conscious mind?