4.2.3

Exercise

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Respiration During Exercise

Exercise increases the body's energy demands. The rate of respiration must increase in order to meet these new demands. The main responses to increase the rate of respiration are:

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Increased heart rate

  • An increase in heart rate delivers more blood (containing glucose and oxygen) to the muscles.
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Increase in breathing rate

  • An increase in breathing rate increases gas exchange in the lungs, with more oxygen taken in and more carbon dioxide released.
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Increase in breath volume

  • An increase in breath volume also increases the rate of gas exchange.
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Blood vessels dilate

  • Blood vessels dilate (open wider) to ensure more blood reaches the muscles.

Anaerobic Respiration

If muscles are not supplied with enough oxygen during long periods of activity (like exercise), then muscle cells may start to respire anaerobically. This can lead to oxygen debt:

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Lactic acid

  • Lactic acid is a by-product of anaerobic respiration.
  • Lactic acid is toxic. When it builds up in muscles, this can cause muscular pain and fatigue.
  • Lactic acid also stops muscles contracting efficiently.
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Oxygen debt

  • Oxygen debt refers to the extra oxygen that is needed after exercise to oxidise lactic acid and get it out of cells.
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Repaying the debt

  • Blood transports the lactic acid to the liver, where it reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water.
  • Heavy breathing after exercise helps to repay the oxygen debt by taking more oxygen into the lungs.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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