Unit 3: Exercise Physiology Flashcards
What are the principle structures of the ventilatory system? (9)
- nose
- mouth
- pharynx
- larynx
- trachea
- bronchi
- bronchioles
- lungs
- alveoli
Nose and Mouth
breath oxygen rich air into system
Pharynx (throat)
branches to form esophagus
Trachea (2)
- carries air into your lungs
- tube from larynx to bronchi that conveys air
Larynx
upper opening into trachea that contains muscles, cartilages, and vocal cords
Bronchi
passageways that connect the trachea and lungs
Bronchioles
smaller branches of bronchi that increase surface area for gas exchange
Alveoli
small air sacs where gas exchange happens
What parts of the respiratory system contribute to the conduction of airways? (3)
- nasal/oral passages
- trachea
- bronchi
What is the overall function of conducting airways? (3)
- low resistance path for air
- warming, moistening of the air
- air filtration by lining
What is the function of the nose as a conducting airway?
humidifies and filters entering air
What is the function of the pharynx as a conducting airway?
a low resistance path for airflow into the larynx and then trachea
What is the function of the larynx (voicebox) as a conducting airway?
protects trachea from invasion of foods and fluids
What is the diaphragm?
a muscular partition separating the thorax from the abdomen in mammals
What is the function of the diaphragm?
its contraction increases the volume of the thorax and inflates the lungs for breathing
What does pulmonary ventilation mean?
breathing
How does air move?
from high to low pressure
Respiratory Cycle
one sequence of inspiration and expiration
Inspiration (2)
- inhalation
- air moves into the lungs
Expiration (2)
- exhalation
- moves air out the lungs
What happens during inspiration at rest? (3)
- diaphragm contracts
- external intercostal muscles contract
- lung volume increases and air pressure decreases —> air moves into lungs
What happens as the diaphragm contracts during inspiration at rest?
it moves inferiorly, creating a larger cavity
What happens as the external intercostal muscles contract during inspiration at rest?
it moves the ribs up and out, causing the rib cage to expand
What happens during exhalation at rest? (3)
- diaphragm relaxes
- external intercostal muscles relax
- lung volume decreases and air pressure increases —> air moves out lungs
When is breathing passive?
during expiration at rest
What happens when the diaphragm relaxes during exhalation at rest?
it moves up making a smaller thoracic cavity
What happens when the external intercostal muscles relax during exhalation at rest?
the ribs move down and in causing the rib cage to relax
What happens to pulmonary ventilation during exercise?
- more oxygen is needed by the muscles
- more carbon dioxide is released by the muscles
- more air needs to be inhaled and exhaled at a faster rate, so we need more muscles to contract and expand the rib cage
What additional muscles are put to work when doing exercise? (2)
- internal intercostals muscles
- muscles of shoulders and abdomen
When is energy required for breathing? (3)
- inspiration at rest
- inspiration during exercise
- exhalation during exercise
What happens to the muscles during inhalation during exercise? (2)
- internal intercostal muscles relax
- external intercostal muscles and diaphragm contract
What happens to the muscles during expiration during exercise? (2)
- external intercostal muscles and diaphragm relax
- internal intercostal muscles contract
Spirometry (2)
- test used to measure breathing in humans
- measures the volume rate that air is inhaled and exhaled over time
tidal volume
volume of air breathed in and out in one normal breath
inspiratory reserve volume
additional inspired air over and above tidal volume
expiratory reserve volume
volume of air in excess of tidal volume that can be exhaled forcefully
residual volume
volume of air in lungs after maximal exhalation
total lung capacity (2)
- volume of air in lungs after a maximum inhalation
- vital capacity + residual volume
vital capacity
maximum volume of air that can be exhaled after a maximum inhalation
How does lung volume relate to trained v. untrained athletes? (2)
- lung volume can’t be trained
- lung volume is determined by natural body size
How does the rate of exhalation relate to trained v. untrained athletes? (2)
- rate of exhalation can be trained with exercise
- muscles controlling exhalation can be worked
cellular respiration (2)
- metabolic process that produces energy from food molecules
- requires O2 and produces CO2
What is increased during exercise? (2)
- breathing rate
- tidal volume
When does blood pH change?
when the amount of CO2 changes
What monitors blood pH?
the brain
What does the body do in response to increased CO2 levels?
faster and deeper breathing
oxygen deficit
when the body cannot deliver enough oxygen to the muscle cells during exercise
What factors regulate ventilation? (3)
- gas partial pressure
- body temperature
- hormones
What receptors send signals to the brain that properly regulate ventilation? (3)
- chemoreceptors
- pulmonary stretch receptors
- muscle proprioceptors
Chemoreceptors
detect changes in blood pH
Pulmonary stretch receptors
respond to stretching of the lung during breathing
Muscle proprioceptors
detect changes in the tension and pressure involved in breathing
partial pressure of gas
measure of concentration of the gas in a mixture
Hemoglobin (4)
- in red blood cells
- high affinity for O2
- transports most O2 in the blood and CO2
- iron containing protein
When does oxygen easily bind to hemoglobin?
in capillaries near lungs where O2 partial pressure is high
What does hemoglobin do?
- carry O2 from the lungs to the tissue
- carry CO2 from tissues to lungs