Mechanics of breathing and spirometer trace

Question 1

Define inhalation/inspiration?

Answer 1

The intake of air into the lungs

Question 2

Define exhalation/expiration

Answer 2

Breathing air out of the lungs

Question 3

What do intecostal muscles do during inhalation at rest?

Answer 3

Contract

Question 4

What does the rib cage do during inhalation at rest?

Answer 4

Moves up and out

Question 5

What does the diaphragm do during inhalation at rest?

Answer 5

Contracts and flattens

Question 6

What happens to the size and volume of the chest cavity during inhalation at rest?

Answer 6

increases/gets larger

Question 7

Does the pressure in the lungs increase or reduce during inhalation at rest? What is the result of this?

Answer 7

Reduces - causing air to rush in

Question 8

During inhalation does air pass from high pressure or low pressure outside the lungs?

Answer 8

High pressure outside, low pressure inside

Question 9

Describe exhalation at rest

Answer 9

Intercostal muscles relax
Ribs move in and down
Diaphragm relaxes and returns to dome shape
Chest cavity volume decreases
Air pressure in lungs increases forcing air out

Question 10

What other muscles help with inhalation during exercise?

Answer 10

Pectorals
Sternocleidomastoid

Question 11

What do these muscles do to help inhalation during exercise and why?

Answer 11

Pectorals pull rib cage out further increasing size of chest cavity allowing more air into lungs
Sternocleidomastoid rasies sternum at front of rib cage increasing size of chest cavity allowing more air into lungs

Question 12

What other muscles assist with exhaltion during exercise?

Answer 12

Abdominals

Question 13

How do these muscles help with exhalation during exercise?

Answer 13

abdominal muscles contract, pulling rib cage down quicker, forcing air out of lungs faster

Question 14

What is Tidal volume?

Answer 14

Volume of air breathed in or out in a normal breath

Question 15

What is Inspiratory reserve volume

Answer 15

The extra amount of air that can be forcibly breathed in, in addition to tidal volume

Question 16

What is Expiratory reserve volume?

Answer 16

The additional amount of air that can be forcibly breathed out, in addition to tidal volume

Question 17

Define the term ‘residual volume’?

Answer 17

The amount of air that always remains in lungs, even after maximal exhalation

Question 18

Which lung volume is used to increase the amount of air breathed in?

Answer 18

Inspiratory reserve volume

Question 19

What is the name of the amount of air left in the lungs after a full expiration?

Answer 19

Residual volume

Question 20

What happens to your breathing rate when exercising?

Answer 20

Increase in rate and depth

Question 21

Why does rate and depth of breathing need to change during exercise?

Answer 21

To increase airflow in and out of lungs
Allows more oxygen for addional energy production
Allows more carbon dioxide to be breathed out

Question 22

What happens to Tidal volume during exercise and why?

Answer 22

Increases as rate and depth of breathing increases

Question 23

What happens to Inspiratory and expiratory reserve volume during exercise?

Answer 23

Both decrease

Question 24

What happens to residual volume during exercise?

Answer 24

Stays the same