Unit 1: Anatomy and
Physiology in Sport
Respiratory system and volumes
Kevin Browne
Recap from last lesson
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Structure of the respiratory system
Diffusion of gases
Learning Objectives

To describe 5 respiratory volumes

To identify 5 responses to exercise on the
respiratory system
Respiratory Volumes
Tidal Volume
This is the amount of air breathed in with each breath
Respiratory rate
Is how many breathes you take per minute
Minute Volume
Is the volume of air you breath in one minute
Vital Capacity
Respiratory Volumes
Vital Capacity
Is the maximum volume of air you can breath in and out during
one breath.
Residual Volume
Is the amount of air left in the lungs after a full exhalation.
Total Lung volume
Is the maximum amount of air that can be present in the lungs at
any moment.
Quick Quiz
Describe the following respiratory volumes:
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Tidal Volume
Residual volume
Total lung volume
Inspiratory reserve volume
Respiratory rate
Minute volume
Vital capacity
Expiratory reserve volume
Answers to quiz
Tidal Volume
This is the amount of air breathed in with each breath
Residual Volume
Is the amount of air left in the lungs after a full exhalation.
Total Lung volume
Is the maximum amount of air that can be present in the lungs at
any moment.
Inspiratory reserve volume
This is the amount of space that is available for air to be inhaled.
Answers to quiz Cont…
Respiratory rate
Is how many breathes you take per minute
Minute Volume
Is the volume of air you breath in one minute
Vital Capacity
Is the maximum volume of air you can breath in and out during one
breath.
Expiratory reserve volume
This is the amount of air that could be exhaled after you have
breathed out
What happens to the respiratory system
when we exercise?
Increase in
respiratory/breathing
rate.
BRAINSTROM:
Responses to exercise
Breathing during exercise
During exercise the muscle cells use up
more oxygen and produce increased
amounts of carbon dioxide.
Your lungs and heart have to work
harder to supply the extra oxygen and
remove the carbon dioxide.
Your breathing rate increases and you
breathe more deeply.
Heart rate also increases in order to
transport the oxygenated blood to the
muscles.
Muscle cell activity increases – more
oxygen is used up and levels of CO2 rise.
Breathing during exercise
The brain detects increasing levels of CO2 – a
signal is sent to the lungs to increase breathing.
Breathing rate and the volume of air in
each breath increase. This means that
more gaseous exchange takes place.
The brain also tells the heart to beat
faster so that more blood is pumped
to the lungs for gaseous exchange.
More oxygenated blood gets to the
muscles and more CO2 is removed.
Breathing changes during exercise
Look at these statistics for a 16 year-old athlete:
Respiratory rate
Volume per
breath
Minute volume
During rest
During exercise
14 breaths/
minute
32 breaths/
minute
0.4 litres
2.4 litres
?
?
Calculate the athlete’s minute volumes
during rest and exercise.
Rest minute volume = 5.6 litres
Exercise minute volume = 76.8 litres
In the long-term, regular exercise strengthens
the respiratory system.
The respiratory muscles (the
diaphragm and intercostals) get
stronger, so they can make the
chest cavity larger.
This larger chest cavity means
more air can be inspired, therefore
increasing your vital capacity.
More capillaries form around the alveoli,
so more gaseous exchange can take place.
Gas exchange can now take place more
quickly meaning exercise can be maintained
at a higher intensity for longer.
Summary of Responses
Short Term
 Increase in breathing (respiratory) rate
 Increase in tidal volume
 Increase in respiratory volume
Long Term
 Increased strength of intercostal muscles
 Decrease in breathing rate
 Increase in tidal volume
 Increase in vital capacity
 Decrease in residual volume