Topic: Breathing and respiration: mechanism, exchange and transport of gases, volumes, disorders· Human Physiology

Lungs do not collapse between breaths and some air always remains in the lungs which can never be expelled because

1. there is a negative intrapleural pressure pulling at the lung walls

2. there is a positive intrapleural pressure

3. pressure in the lungs is higher than the atmospheric pressure

4. there is a negative pressure in the lungs

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Answer: 1. there is a negative intrapleural pressure pulling at the lung walls

The pleural cavity around each lung has a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, called negative intrapleural pressure. This keeps pulling the lung walls against the chest wall, so the lungs stay expanded between breaths.

Because of this, a volume of air (the residual volume) always remains and cannot be expelled. Positive intrapleural pressure would collapse the lung, so option 2 is wrong.

Doubtly AI · 30 Oct 2026 AI-generated · not yet verified Report

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Lungs do not collapse between breaths and some air always remains in the lungs which can never be expelled because

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