ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

On Breath

Breath is the air we breathe in and out of our bodies. It helps us get the oxygen our body needs to live and get rid of the carbon dioxide that our body doesn't need.

When we breathe in, our chest expands and the air goes into our nose or mouth, down our throat, and into our lungs. Inside our lungs there are tiny little things called alveoli that help get the oxygen out of the air and into our blood. Our blood then takes the oxygen all around our body to help us stay alive and healthy.

When we breathe out, our chest gets smaller and the air goes back up from our lungs, out our nose or mouth, and into the air around us.

Breathing is something we do automatically without even thinking about it. But we can also control our breathing by taking deep breaths or breathing in a certain way to help us feel calm and relaxed.