Breathing lab

Question 1

What are the relative difference in duration between inspiration and expiration at rest?

Answer 1

Expiration is slightly longer than inspiration. This is because inspiration is active compared to expiration. During inspiration, air resistance is decreasing as the lung is expanding. However the opposite occurs for exhaling. This means that it takes more time to exhale than inhale.

Question 2

During which phase in respiration can breath be held longer?

Answer 2

After full inspiration. This is because it contains maximum amount of gas in the lungs. After a breath hold in full expiration, the small volume of gas in the lungs cause CO2 accumulates in the blood stream. The PCO2 content in the blood is an important stimulus for breathing, more than hypoxia.

Question 3

What happens to breathing rate during exercise?

Answer 3

Breathing rate increases. This is due to the muscles cells demanding more oxygen and needing to buffer CO2. Increase in CO2 in the blood leads to an increase in breathing rate

Question 4

What happens to breathing rate during exercise?

Answer 4

Breathing rate increases. This is due to the muscles cells demanding more oxygen and needing to buffer CO2. Increase in CO2 in the blood leads to an increase in breathing rate

Question 5

What happens to breathing rate after 1 minute or 2 minutes of exercise?

Answer 5

The breathing rate still remains high. This is to expel remaining CO2 in the blood stream but breathing rates should lower down to resting levels.