Ep 163: Are Lungs Outside the Body?

Biomechanist Katy Bowman talks with biologist Jeannette Loram about lung movement.

Katy and Jeannette debate whether the lung surfaces are actually outside the body, similar to the tubes of the gut, and discuss how lung movement is not only important for breathing but also for immunity. They discuss the anatomy of our lungs and the mechanics of lung movement and explain how our lungs, just like our hips, have a range of motion that they need to be moved through on a regular basis.

They discuss humans as endurance-adapted animals and explain how our ribcage anatomy is adapted for greater lung movement compared with non-endurance animals. They also discuss postural issues such as hyperkyphosis and forward shoulders that can limit our ability to take good breaths.

Finally, they touch on some unique breathing scenarios such as high-altitude and aquatic environments.