The Extraordinary Abilities of Breath-Hold Divers
In The Extraordinary Abilities of Breath-Hold Divers, learn about the abilities of breath-hold divers and the scientific discoveries that are being made as researchers study their techniques. Understand the human body's remarkable ability to adapt and how these findings could have future applications in medicine and technology. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
Lesson Express
Q: How is the physiology of breath-hold divers different from that of regular people?
A: Breath-hold divers can hold their breath for longer because their bodies have made special changes, like developing bigger lungs and a better tolerance to carbon dioxide.
Q: Which muscles are most important when holding your breath and what do they do?
A: The intercostal muscles (between the ribs) and the diaphragm help control breathing and allow divers to hold their breath for a long time.
Q: How can studying breath-hold divers help improve technology or medicine?
A: By studying breath-hold divers, scientists may come up with new ways to improve breathing devices, develop better diving technology, or find treatments to help people with lung problems.