Respiratory (chronic adaptation)

Question 1

List all the respiratory chronic adaptation

Answer 1

1) Increased tidal volume (at sub maximal and maximal intensity)
2) Increased ventilation (maximal intensity)
3) Decreased ventilation at rest and sub maximal intensity
4) Increased lung capacity/volume
5) Increased alveoli – capillary surface area
6) Increased pulmonary diffusion
7) Increased ventilatory efficiency
8) Decreased oxygen cost to ventilatory muscles, intercostals and diaphragm
9) Decreased respiratory rate at rest and sub maximal intensity

Question 2

Explain Increase in tidal volume at sub-maximal and maximal intensity

Answer 2

As the size and volume of the lungs increase after aerobic training, the amount of air inspired and expired per breathe will increase. As this occurs more oxygen is made avaliable to be transported to the working muscles thus allowing the athlete to work at a higher intensity aerobically,.

Question 3

Explain Increase in ventilation at maximal intensity

Answer 3

As Tidal volume increases in response to aerobic training, ventilation increases as well. This will mean that more oxygen will be brought into the body to be made avalible to the working muscles, allowing the athlete to work at a higher intensity aerobically

Question 4

Formula for ventilation

Answer 4

V=RR x TV

Question 5

Explain Decreased ventilation at rest and submaximal intensity

Answer 5

Trained aerobic athletes can have a lower ventilation at sub-maximal heart rate as they have an increase in ventilatory efficiency, which allows for a lower demand of oxygen from ventilatory muscles, intercostals and diaphragm. Hence, for muscles working at the same level of sub-maximal intensity maintaining a consistent oxygen demand, ventilation can be lowered (as ventilation is the amount of air inspired and expired per minute) and the total demand of oxygen by ventilatory system and working muscles can still be met.

Question 6

Explain Increased lung capacity/volume

Answer 6

A trained aerobic athlete will have larger lungs, allowing more air to be inspired (and expired) per breath, resulting in a greater tidal volume, which allows more oxygen o be brought into body and made readily available for working muscles, allowing athlete to work a higher intensity aerobically.

Question 7

Explain Increased alveoli – capillary surface area

Answer 7

A trained aerobic athlete can increase the surface area of their alveoli and capillaries, increasing the area for the sites of diffusion, allowing more oxygen to move from lungs to bloodstream (and more carbon dioxide to move from bloodstream to lungs), resulting in more oxygen being made readily available to be delivered to working muscles, allowing athlete to work at higher intensity aerobically.

Question 8

Explain Increased pulmonary diffusion

Answer 8

Increase in in alveoli and capillary surface area allows for more sites of diffusion to occur, allowing more oxygen to diffuse form lungs to bloodstream (and carbon dioxide from bloodstream to lungs), resulting in greater amounts of oxygen being made readily available to be delivered to working muscles so that athlete can work at higher intensity aerobically.

Question 9

Explain Increased ventilatory efficiency

Answer 9

A trained athlete will have greater ventilatory efficiency, where the oxygen demand from ventilatory muscles, intercostals and diaphragm is lowered, allowing more oxygen to be made available for working muscles to use at all intensities, allowing athlete to work at higher intensity aerobically.