Is it possible to get Oxygen to the brain without breathing?

[Atman]

Just wondering if anyone knows how I can get Oxygen to my brain without breathing?

[Jordanw21]

Breathing IS the evolved mechanism for providing oxygen to every system of the body, including the brain, in order for aerobic cellular respiration to occur. If another mechanism was possible, it would be taught in every elementary school and swimming class, to prevent drowning and suffocation. Also, mechanical respiration or ventilation would not be a necessary form of life support in hospitals. So the answer to your question is no. However, when there is a lack of oxygen, cells do switch over to anaerobic respiration to be able to produce energy without using oxygen. So theoretically, it is possible for an organisms muscles to function without requiring oxygen. The human body's form of anaerobic respiration is lactic acid fermentation though, which barely provides enough energy to function and can only be relied upon for seconds. This contribution would be negligible when it comes to providing energy to the brain, so I'm going to say that you're better off breathing.

[JackBean]

well, anaerobic respiration is quite good for musles only (but quite for a long time), however, braqin requires lots of energy, so for it it's not a good idea to work anaerobically.
(that's why is brain injured first after heart stop etc.)

[Deat]

Would there be a way similar to dialysis of taking the blood out and mixing it with oxygen artifically in a machine, if this where possible, most likely costly in theory the organism has not taken a breath.

[Atman]

Breathing IS the evolved mechanism for providing oxygen to every system of the body, including the brain, in order for aerobic cellular respiration to occur. If another mechanism was possible, it would be taught in every elementary school and swimming class, to prevent drowning and suffocation. Also, mechanical respiration or ventilation would not be a necessary form of life support in hospitals. So the answer to your question is no. However, when there is a lack of oxygen, cells do switch over to anaerobic respiration to be able to produce energy without using oxygen. So theoretically, it is possible for an organisms muscles to function without requiring oxygen. The human body's form of anaerobic respiration is lactic acid fermentation though, which barely provides enough energy to function and can only be relied upon for seconds. This contribution would be negligible when it comes to providing energy to the brain, so I'm going to say that you're better off breathing.

What about when we digest food, doesn't it still go to the brain? And if so, how much oxygen we digest goes to the brain compared to breathing?

[canalon]

What about when we digest food, doesn't it still go to the brain? And if so, how much oxygen we digest goes to the brain compared to breathing?

No significant amount of oxygen is provided by food. Fill your lungs with water and you will die. Even if you manage to infuse your gut with as much oxygen as you can without blowing up. NOT a good idea.

[Atman]

Oxygen is transported to the brain by our red blood cells. These cells transport the oxygen molecules from our lungs into our bloodstream, where they are delivered to our brains. The same red blood cells also remove the carbon dioxide waste from our blood, which we exhale.

I found this quote on the net. Since Oxygen does not go directly to our brain via the lungs, but travels through the bloodstream first, does this mean that we can place the Oxygen molecules into our blood first and have it travel to our brain, bypassing the lungs and therefore have found a way to get Oxygen to the brain without breathing?

[JackBean]

well, there is a problem, how will you deliver it to the blood? As gas? Then you will end up with embolia. As liquid? You cannot be just adding more and more liquid to the system. But yes, you could use dialysis for that.
Anyway, using lungs is much more simpler

[explicit]

There are artificial lungs. Here is a portable on in development.

http://www.mc3corp.com/case_studies/art ... _lung_bio/