11.1.6

Breathing & Exercise

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Exercise and Breathing

Exercise increases the rate of respiration in muscle cells. This causes both the rate and depth of breathing to increase.

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Response to exercise

  • The increased rate of respiration in cells creates a higher concentration of carbon dioxide (a waste product of respiration) in the blood.
  • The brain detects this and causes breathing to become deeper and faster.
  • This means more carbon dioxide can be breathed out at a quicker rate (and more oxygen is also breathed in).
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Investigating breathing

  • The rate and volume (or depth) of someone's breathing can be tested using a piece of equipment called a spirometer.
    • The closer together the waves shown by the spirometer, the faster the breathing rate.
    • The higher the waves, the deeper the breaths.

Jump to other topics

1Classification of Living Organisms

2Organisation of the Organism

3Movement Into & Out of Cells

4Biological Molecules

5Enzymes

6Plant Nutrition

7Human Nutrition

8Transport in Plants

9Transport in Animals

10Diseases & Immunity

11Gas Exchange in Humans

12Respiration

13Excretion in Humans

14Coordination & Response

15Drugs

16Reproduction

17Inheritance

18Variation & Selection

19Organisms & Their Environment

20Human Influence on Ecosystems

21Biotechnology & Genetic Modification

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