Breathing And Exercise
Overview
Your resting breathing rate barely needs a thought, but within seconds of starting to run it climbs, your heart pounds, and your muscles start to burn. None of that is accidental: it is a coordinated response by the thorax, the blood and the nervous system to a sudden rise in the demand for oxygen. This topic covers the structures that move air in and out of the lungs, how the alveoli are built to exchange gases efficiently, how the body monitors and controls carbon dioxide levels, and what actually changes, physically, when you exercise regularly.
You also need to be able to interpret a spirometer trace, explain what a pulse rate tells you about fitness, describe how an oxygen debt builds up and is repaid, and know exactly how smoking damages both the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
Objectives
- Know the structure of the thorax including the ribs, intercostal muscles, diaphragm, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli and pleural membranes
- Explain the role of the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm in ventilation
- Explain how the lungs are adapted for gas exchange by diffusion
- Understand the terms lung capacity, vital capacity, tidal volume and interpret spirometer traces showing breathing movement
- Investigate the effect of exercise on the rate of breathing and measure lung capacity
- Describe the regulation of carbon dioxide content in the blood including the role of chemoreceptors in the aorta and carotid arteries
- Understand the term aerobic exercise
- Understand the long-term benefits of exercise on the cardiovascular system
- Understand the pulse rate as a measure of heart rate and explain why resting pulse can be used as a measure of physical fitness
- Explain why the heart rate changes during exercise and the influence of adrenaline
- Investigate the effect of exercise on the pulse rate
- Understand how an oxygen debt arises and how it is repaid after exercise
- Understand the damage to the respiratory and cardiovascular system caused by smoking
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Breathing And Exercise. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which muscles contract to pull the ribs up and out during inhalation? A) Internal intercostal muscles B) External intercostal muscles C) Diaphragm only D) Abdominal muscles Answer: B
- The maximum volume of air that can be forced out of the lungs after the deepest possible breath in is called: A) Tidal volume B) Residual volume C) Vital capacity D) Cardiac output Answer: C
- Chemoreceptors that detect a rise in blood carbon dioxide concentration are found in: A) The alveoli and bronchioles B) The aorta and carotid arteries C) The liver and kidneys D) The diaphragm Answer: B
- Carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke damages the body mainly by: A) Destroying cilia in the airways B) Narrowing blood vessels C) Binding to haemoglobin and reducing oxygen transport D) Causing lung cancer directly Answer: C
- An oxygen debt arises because: A) The lungs stop working during exercise B) Lactic acid produced by anaerobic respiration must be broken down using oxygen C) The heart stops pumping blood D) Carbon dioxide is no longer produced Answer: B
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
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