Breathing & Exercise
Biology: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 11.1.6
Exercise and Breathing
Exercise increases the rate of respiration in muscle cells. This causes both the rate and depth of breathing to increase.
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).
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.
Test yourself on Breathing & Exercise
Which of these is not an effect of exercise on breathing?
What do we call the device used to measure the rate and volume of breathing?
How does increased rate of respiration in muscle cells affect breathing?