National League for Nursing (NLN PAX) Practice Exam

Question: 1 / 495

When the rib cage moves upward and outward and the diaphragm flattens out?

Air is expelled from lungs

Air is drawn into lungs

The movement of the rib cage upward and outward, along with the flattening of the diaphragm, signifies inspiration, or inhalation. When these actions occur, the volume of the thoracic cavity increases. According to Boyle's law, as the volume of a container increases, the pressure within that container decreases, assuming a constant amount of gas. In this case, as the thoracic cavity expands, the pressure inside the lungs becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure outside of the body. This pressure difference allows air to be drawn into the lungs, filling the newly created space. This process is crucial for oxygenating the blood and is a fundamental aspect of respiratory physiology.

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Air pressure in the lungs rises

There is no change in the air pressure in the lungs

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