Respiratory System. Ventilation 18.4 page 492. Ventilation. Ventilation. VENTILATION
Ventilation 18.4 page 492
The thoracic cavity, in which the lungs are located, is a closed box supported externally by the ribs. It is separated from the abdominal cavity by the dome shaped diaphragm. Changes in the volume of the thorax immediately cause changes in the pressure of the air in the lungs. This results in the flow of air into and out of them.
The most important factor in the control of ventilation is the concentration of respiratory gases in the blood.