Breathtaking Fun!

When we are not active, each of us breathes about ten times every minute. Surprisingly, our lungs have no muscles of their own. So, how can they do the work of breathing?

The work is done by muscles in the walls and bottom of the chest. When these muscles tighten, they make the space inside the chest larger. This lets air rush into the lungs. When the muscles relax, the space becomes smaller and air moves out of the lungs. Try to breathe in and out without moving your chest. Is it possible?

Try This!

Plastic bottle, balloons, and the cut-off bottom of the bottle

You can make a model of the way your lungs work. You will need a medium-sized clear plastic bottle (a dishwashing soap bottle works well), scissors and 2 medium-sized balloons.

Have an adult help you cut off the bottom half of the bottle. the top part of the bottle should be about 6 inches (15 cm)tall.
Slide a balloon into the mouth of the bottle and roll the open end over the top edge of the bottle. This will be the "lung in your model.
Cut off the top of the other balloon. Tie a knot in the bottom of the remaining piece. Slide the cut end around the bottom of the bottle.
Pull the bottom balloon carefully downward. What happens to the "lung" balloon? This is similar to what happens when you breathe in. Gently squeeze the sides of the bottle and push the bottom balloon into the space in the bottle. Now what happens?

Coughing and sneezing help clean out your airways. Can you make your lung model cough or sneeze?

It's In the Air

Excuse me please, I've got to sneeze.
I feel it coming on!
Is it the dust in this old house
that makes it feel so strong?
Or maybe pollen from the plants, released in spring and fall?
Or spores produced by all the mold on our damp basement wall?
Or maybe pepper from the can I spilled all over there!
Achoo, achoo, achoo, achoo -- there's something in the air!

My Health My World Explorations for Children and Adults is a publication of the Division of School-Based Programs, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , and was made possible by a grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. For more information, contact Center for Educational Outreach, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. Thanks to Baylor for allowing NIEHS to reproduce portions of those articles here on the NIEHS Kids' Pages!

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or the words "Non-NIEHS Link", it means that by following that link you will be leaving the NIEHS website. NIEHS is NOT responsible for non-NIEHS websites. Sites maintained by outside organizations may be changed without notice to NIEHS. Therefore, unless the link is to another U.S. government sponsored webpage, endorsement by NIEHS is not implied, and NIEHS does not guarantee their continuing safe content or privacy policies. So please ask your parent or guardian before continuing to any non-NIEHS website, and especially before providing any information via the internet or by e-mail. When last reviewed, the websites linked from the NIEHS Kids' Pages seemed suitable for you to visit, but that may have changed; if you have any difficulties or concerns with any linked materials, please let us know .

National Institute ofEnvironmental Health Sciences

Breathtaking Fun!

Try This!

It's In the Air

National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences