respiratory system

immediate effects of exercise on the respiratory system: increase in braething rate (faster breathing), and increase in depth of breathing (more air taken in with each breath). the benefit of these changes are: increase in removal of carbon dioxide and increase in the amount of oxygen taken into the lungs in each breath.

breathed in (%)                    breathed out(%)                 explanation of difference in percentages

oxyen 21%                           oxygen 16%                       less oxygen, as used by working muscles

carbon dioxide 0.03%          carbon dioxide 4%             more carbon dioxide is produced as by-                                                                                       product of energy released

oxygen debt- this is the extra amount of oxygen required after anaerobic exercise, compared with the amount normally needed when at rest.

effect of smoking on the respiratory system: smoking will cause a reduction in oxygen uptake by the red blood cells, they will carry carbon monoxide from the cigarette smoke in preference to oxygen.

long-term effects on the respiratory system due to regular exercise are: increased number of alveoli, increased strength of intercostal muscles, increased strength of the diaphram and increased lung volume (due to increased tidal volume and vital capacity). the benefits of these adaptations are: your respiratory system is stronger, you can take in more air and extract oxygen more effectively and therefore you can provide more oxygen for transport to working muscles.

total lung capacity (TLC) = the total volume of air in your lungs after your biggest breath in.

tidal volume (TV) = during normal breathing, the total amount breathed in and out in one cycle.

vital capacity (VC) = the maximum you can forcibly breath in and out