Respiratory System

When running fast you automatically breath rapidly. As there is an increase in heart
rate there is a corresponding increase in the rate and depth of breathing. This is where
oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the atmosphere and the blood
vessels in the lungs during gaseous exchange.(Physical education and the study of
sport – RJ Davies ect.)

Respiration is achieved through the

Mouth, nose, lungs, trachea and
diaphragm.
There are two types of respiration:
• Internal known as active
respiration
• External known as passive, and
Air can be taken in through the mouth.
These two openings of the airway meet
at the pharynx or throat, at the back of
the nose and mouth.
At the top of the respiratory system, the
nostrils act as the air intake, bringing air
into the nose. Tiny hairs called cilia
protect the nasal passage ways and other
parts of the respiratory tract, filtering out
dust and other particles that enter the nose through the breathe air.
The trachea or windpipe, extends downward from the base of the larynx. It lies in the
neck and partly in the chest cavity. The walls of the trachea are strengthened by stiff
rings of cartilage to keep it open and is very flexible.
The diaphragm separates the chest from the abdomen and is the most important
muscle involved when breathing. It is a sheet of muscle that extends across the
bottom of the rib cage. (Sport level 3- Mark Adams ect)
For air to move into the lungs the pressure of air within the lungs must be lower than
the pressure of air within the atmosphere. The greater the pressure difference is, the
faster the air will flow into the lungs. This is because air always moves from an area
of high pressure to an area of low pressure. This means by changing the volume of
your thoracic cavity you can alter the pressure of air in your lungs.(Advance PE and
Sport John Honeybourne ect)

Lung volumes
Tidal volume (TV)
Amount of air inspired/expired per breath
Resting value: 500ml/breath
During exercise: increases up to 3/4litres per breath

Minute ventilation (VE)

Amount of air inspired/expired in 1 minute
Resting value: 6.5-7litres/min
During exercise: increases 120-180litres/min

Breathing rate (BR)

Number of breaths/minute
Resting value: 12-15 breaths
During exercise: increases up to 40-60 breaths as there is a higher demand of oxygen
to the muscle

Pulmonary ventilation is the movement of air into and out of the lungs. Taking air
into the lungs is called inspiration and moving air out of the lungs is called
expiration. The amount of air which is moved per minute depends on the amount of
work which is performed. As more work is done more energy is needed increasing
the demand for oxygen, so the pulmonary ventilation increases. (Advance PE and
Sport John Honeybourne Ect)

Gas Exchange
Gas exchange is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in two places known as
external respiration and internal respiration.
Inspiration is pressure which is lowered than atmospheric pressure so air can rush in
via the respiratory tract. This happens until gas pressures are equalised. During
inspiration a much larger volume of inspired air is achieved by the concentration of
inspiratory muscles.
Then during expiration the opposite occurs a dense pulmonary capillary network.
Some alveoli have poor non existent blood supply. The diaphragm and external
intercostal muscles relax and return to their original positions.
During exercise there is an increase in respiratory rates which is a result of increased
carbon dioxide and acidity levels. (Physical
education and the study of sport – RJ Davies
ect.)
Gaseous exchange occurs by diffusion between
the air in the alveoli and blood capillaries.
Diffusion is the movement of gases from an
area of high concentration to an area of low
concentration. It occurs when particles spread.
They move from a region where they are in
high concentration to a region where they are in low concentration. Diffusion
happens when the particles are free to move. This is due to difference in partical
pressures of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the pulmonary system. Partial pressure is
the pressure a gas exerts within a mixture of gases, for example the greater the
concentration of gas the greater the pressure will be.
During exercise diffusion takes place and carbon dioxide has an area of low pressure.
There is a greater concentration and diffusion gradient so faster diffusion will occur.
When there is a bigger gradient the greater the gas exchange will be.

Oxygen is transported by hemoglobin of red blood cells.

One hemoglobin is able to carry four oxygen molecules. At
rest 25% of oxygen transported to the blood is used, this
means 75% of venous blood is still saturated with
oxygen. But during maximal exertion up to 85% of
transported oxygen may be used.
When there is a low partical pressure of oxygen in
muscles during exercise it causes ab increase in the
diffusion gradient between the muscle and the red blood cells. This encourages
dissociation of oxyhaemoglobin and release of oxygen to the tissue. Any further
encouragement during exercise will increase the temperature and decrease the PH.
(Sport level 3- Mark Adams ect)
 Bibliography

• Physical education and the study of sport – RJ Davies, CR Bull, JV

Roscoe and DA Roscoe.

• Advance PE and Sport John Honeybourne, Michael Hill and Helen

Moors

• Sport level 3- Mark Adams, Ray Barker, Adam Gledhill, Chris

Lydon, Chris Mulligan, Pam Phillippo and Louise Sutton