Is it something inherent to human biology, or is it learned while in the womb? Thanks.
In: Biology
Breathing is an inherent, built-in automatic reflex, like blinking and swallowing. You can consciously take control, but eventually it’ll go back into automatic mode controlled by the brain stem rather than the “actively thinking” cortex.
Plus, babies breathe in the womb. It’s super important that they do, in fact. They breathe the amniotic fluid to expand and develop their lungs and breathing muscles, all of it under the control of the brain stem.
It’s like a logic gate. Sensors measure CO2 in the blood and send “breathe now” signals to the breathing muscles when those start to get high. Also when O2 is low, but to a very much lesser degree. That’s why you automatically breathe faster when there’s more CO2 being made, like exercise.
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