sisäänhengittää

Sisäänhengittää is the Finnish verb meaning "to inhale" or "to breathe in". It describes the physiological process of drawing air into the lungs. This action is an integral part of respiration, the fundamental process that allows organisms to obtain oxygen and expel carbon dioxide.

The act of inhaling involves the diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle located at the base of the chest cavity, contracting and flattening. Simultaneously, the intercostal muscles between the ribs contract, lifting the rib cage upwards and outwards. These movements increase the volume of the thoracic cavity, which in turn decreases the air pressure within the lungs. As a result, air naturally flows into the lungs from the higher atmospheric pressure outside the body.

In a broader, metaphorical sense, "sisäänhengittää" can also refer to absorbing or taking in information, experiences, or influences. For example, one might say they are "sisäänhengittämässä uusia ideoita" (inhaling new ideas), meaning they are open to and actively processing new concepts. This figurative usage highlights the passive yet receptive nature of taking something in.