Exercise and Oxygen Debt Flashcards
When we exercise, what does our body need to carry out more of?
C_______ R_______
Why does it carry out more of this?
Cellular Respiration
This is because all exercise requires us to move our muscles more than usual, and any muscular contraction is going to require a lot of energy, which we get from respiration.
Respiration requires oxygen, so how do we get more oxygen into our muscles to achieve this?
What are the downsides?
The rate of our breathing and the volume of each breath will have to increase.
However, this will require us to move the muscles around our lungs a lot more than usual, which itself is going to require energy.
We will also be pumping this oxygen around the body quicker than usual, so our heart rate will increase, which again will require more energy.
After enough oxygen is supplied to our muscles, what kind of respiration is used?
Aerobic Respiration
When there is not enough oxygen supplied to our muscles, what kind of respiration is used?
Anaerobic Respiration
What kind of acid does anaerobic respiration cause to build up?
Lactic Acid
Explain Lactic Acid.
When there is no spare oxygen, the body uses anaerobic respiration as a form of energy. This causes lactic acid to form and build up in tissues, which causes the burning sensation you feel when you exercise.
What is Oxygen Debt?
When you finish exercising, the body needs to get rid of the lactic acid by reacting it with oxygen. Therefore, the more lactic acid you have built up, the more oxygen you will need. This is called oxygen debt.
For these reactions to take place, our blood carries the lactic acid from the muscles over to the liver, where it can react with oxygen and be converted back to glucose.
What can you measure to investigate the effects of exercise on the body?
Breathing Rate and Heart Rate.
How do you measure someone’s breathing rate?
Count how many times their chest rises and falls in a given amount of time, generally for 1 minute.
How do you measure heart rate?
Measure your pulse. You can do this by placing 2 fingers on the artery in your wrist or your neck.
