Who Controls Your Breathing · Lungs
Clusters of neurons in the brainstem set the rhythm.
Deep in your brainstem, a small cluster of cells fires in a steady rhythm, sending a signal down to your diaphragm every few seconds. It has done this without pause since before you were born, and it keeps going while you're unconscious.
There's more: clusters of neurons in the brainstem set the rhythm. The full explanation — and the interactive version you can tap and quiz yourself on — lives in the app.
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