True or False: During exhalation, the diaphragm contracts to actively push air out of the lungs.

During exhalation, the diaphragm actually relaxes rather than contracts. When the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward, creating a vacuum that allows air to flow into the lungs during inhalation. In the process of exhalation, the diaphragm returns to its dome-shaped position, which decreases the volume of the thoracic cavity and forces air out of the lungs passively due to the elastic recoil of the lung tissue. This is driven by the pressure differences created between the lungs and the atmosphere, making exhalation primarily a passive process. Therefore, stating that the diaphragm contracts to push air out is incorrect, confirming that the true answer is, indeed, false.