1. Understanding the Structures of Respiration
   1. The air storage system
      1. Lungs are made up of many tiny sacs, like a system of hundreds of thousands of tiny interconnected balloons.
         1. These are covered by two special membranes, like a sac within a sac.
         2. These membranes are surrounded by fluid within and without so that they can move and stretch easily.
      2. The lung sacs are joined to tubes (bronchioles) to the bronchial tubes to the trachea (windpipe).
      3. The trachea attaches to the bottom of the larynx (voice box) where the vocal cords serve as a protective valve; they also work with the muscles of the chest and arms for heavy lifting and exertion (they hold air in the lungs so the rib cage does not collapse from the contraction of the chest and back muscles), and the vocal cords are used in the production of voice.
      4. The larynx opens into the pharynx (throat) which opens upward into the back of the mouth (oropharynx) and the back of the nose (nasopharynx).
      5. The mouth and the nose are to ports to the outside air. The soft palate is the air valve of the nose, and the lips are the air valve of the mouth.
   2. The air intake system.
      1. There are no muscles in the lungs, bronchioles, bronchial tubes, or trachea to pull air in; they are primarily elastic fibrous, membranous tissue.
      2. The chest walls around the lungs are composed of:
         1. Bones and cartilage (ribs, vertebrae, clavicles or collar bones).
         2. Muscles and tendons and ligaments which connect and move bones and cartilage.
         3. Blood vessels, membranes, etc.
      3. The floor of the lungs cavity/upper chest is the diaphragm, a dome- shaped, sheet-like muscle which attaches at its edges to the sternum, ribs and spine. Like all muscles, it only actively pulls in one direction; in this case inwards and downwards (flattening the dome-shaped downwards).
   3. The air expulsion system.
      1. There is always a reserve of air in the lungs (tidal air). That’s why you can exhale and still pause/hold your breath for a few seconds before inhaling again.
      2. The abdominal wall muscles
         1. These are long, flat muscles that cross, transverse, and interconnect across the stomach and intestines.
      3. The diaphragm, passively: in the sense that muscles have an elasticity and will return to their resting state if not in action or being acted upon by another muscle.

1. Mechanics of Respiration
   1. Inhalation is caused by an expansion of the upper chest cavity, which creates a negative air pressure within the chest cavity, lung membranes, and lung sacs. Air flows in through the mouth or nose to stabilize/equalize the air pressure.
      1. The chest cavity size can be expanded in three primary ways.
         1. The intercostal muscles (rib muscles) and the muscles of the claviclesand neck can pull the ribs upwards in an untorquing, rotating motion to expand the chest walls.
            1. This requires considerable muscle effort.
            2. It involves strong movement of the muscles around the larynx.
            3. It will bring about 1-2 cups of air into the lungs.
         2. The diaphragm constricts or tightens which causes it to shorten in length and width and transversely. This action flattens the diaphragm downwards. As it loses the upward, dome shape, the chest cavity increases its lower dimension.
            1. Little upper chest wall movement takes place.
            2. The abdomen is pushed outwards--the stomach, liver, and intestines require space, too.
            3. About 5-8 cups of air can be taken per breath.
         3. The lower ribs are elevated and the diaphragm works with this movement.
            1. This is a composite of good sitting and standing posture
            2. It still does not involve excessive upper chest/neck muscle tension.
            3. T he muscles of respiration can move easily and without restriction.
            4. The appropriate way to name/describe appropriate breathing is not “diaphragmatic”, but rather “epigastric”. Diaphragmatic breathing occurs at least partially in all the population. You cannot feel or see your diaphragm. Epigastric refers to a specific area of movement which can be felt and observed in the passive and active motions. “Epi” refers tothe centric area of the lower abdomen just below the sternum (breastbone).  “Gastric” refers to the movement of the muscle wall of the stomach and intestine.
      2. Inhalation is not just the activity of the diaphragm as opposed to the ribs muscles.
   2. Exhalation is a reverse process of inhalation.
      1. It does not require active muscle pressing.
      2. Voice will occur from airflow generated by the returning of muscles, ribs, lung sacs, etc. to their pre-inhalation state.
      3. There can be active muscle exhalation for increased vocal intensity, rate, range, etc.such as for singing, dramatic speaking.
   3. In breathing for speech we are concerned with two processes: Inhalation of air in an easy efficient manner and exhaling air in an easy, controlled, gradual motion.
      1. Optimal inhalation for speaking/singing is as follows:
         1. Establish good sitting or standing posture given the situation.
         2. Maintain an erect rib cage--this feels like a slight flaring of the lower ribs.
         3. Since the primary inhalation movement will be with the diaphragm, which you cannot feel or see, the muscle wall just below the sternum will deflect outwards.
      2. Optimal exhalation for speaking/singing occurs in the reverse of inhalation.
         1. The ribs will slightly torque to their pre-inhalation posture.
         2. The diaphragm will progressively relax.
         3. The muscles of the abdomen may or may not pull in firmly to assist in sustaining vocal tone.

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