Exercise and Respiration

As one will experience, during exercise, respiration increases based on the amount of activity being done. But why does this change occur? There is an increased demand for gas exchange because the circulatory system is under stress. During exercise, the Oxygen consumption rises from 300 ml/min at rest to 3000 ml/min. Likewise, the Carbon Dioxide production increases from 240 ml/min to 3000 ml/min.

A sample problem:

During moderate exercise, the following values will increase, decrease, or remain the same (with respect to resting conditions):

(a) pH (b) R (respiratory exchange ratio) (c) cardiac output (d) arterial P(CO2) (e) Oxygen consumption

Answers:

(a) remains the same (b) increases (c) increases (d) remains the same (e) increases

For more information on this topic, please refer to West , page 133.

Also, check out the following links that may be helpful:

• Review of Respiration
  
• Muscles of Respiration
• Respiration and Exercise
• And, as always, if you have questions, or if you can suggest a helpful link, please e-mail me.

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This page was written by Sally Conrad , a student in this course.

BME 403 Pages maintained by the T.A., Douglas Miles.