Unit 3 Definitions

Question 1

anatomic dead space

Answer 1

the air that fills the nose, mouth, trachea, and other non-diffusable conducting portions of the respiratory tract. The portion of inspired breath that doesn’t engage in gas exchange with blood.

Question 2

bicarbinate

Answer 2

CO2 combined with water becomes a bicarbonate.

Question 3

carbonic acid***

Answer 3

a weak acid, forms when bicarbonate binds with H+

Question 4

Forced Vital Capacity

Answer 4

FVC - maximal volume expired after maximal inspiration. This is not the entire total capacity - the residual volume is left.

Question 5

hemoglobin

Answer 5

iron-protein molecule in red blood cells that binds with oxygen for transportation throughout the body.

Question 6

hyperventilation

Answer 6

an increase in pulmonary ventilation that exceeds the oxygen needs of metabolism.

Question 7

minute ventilation

Answer 7

quiet breathing at rest, an adults’ breathing rate average equals 12 breaths per min, and total volume averages about 0.5 L air per breath. Under these conditions the volume of air breathed each min = 6 L.
Minute vent. (VE) 6.0 Lxmin-1 = (BRaverage) 12 per min x (TVaverage) 0.5 L

Question 8

mechanoreceptor

Answer 8

sensory input from joints, tendons, and muscles that adjusts ventilation during exercise. The specific peripheral receptors remain unknown, but experiments support their existence.

Question 9

myoglobin

Answer 9

iron-protein compound similar to hemoglobin contained in skeletal and cardiac muscles. Mg adds additional O2 to muscle, facilitates O2 transfer to the mitochondria, notably at the start and during intense exercise.