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Respiratory Tract

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The last major component of the respiratory tract are the muscles of respiration. These sets of muscles surround the lungs and allow air to be inhaled and exhaled from them. The diaphragm is the principal muscle of respiration in humans, and it is a thin sheet of muscle that makes up the bottom end of the thorax. When it contracts, it moves downward into the abdominal cavity, pulling more air into the lungs by expanding the space in the thoracic cavity. When it is relaxed, air is able to flow back out of the lungs. In addition, there are also many intercostal muscles that are located between the ribs and assist in the expansion and compression of the lungs.

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