By studying this chapter, you should be able to do the following:
Explain the principal physiological function of the pulmonary system.
Outline the major anatomical components of the respiratory system.
List the major muscles involved in inspiration and expiration at rest and during exercise.
Discuss the importance of matching blood flow to alveolar ventilation in the lung.
Explain how gases are transported across the blood-gas interface in the lung.
Discuss the major transportation modes of O2 and CO2 in the blood.
Discuss the effects of increasing temperature, decreasing pH, and increasing levels of 2-3 DPG on the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve.
Describe the ventilatory response to constant load, steady-state exercise. What happens to ventilation if exercise is prolonged and performed in a high-temperature/humid environment?
Describe the ventilatory response to incremental exercise. What factors are thought to contribute to the alinear rise in ventilation at work rates above 50% to 70% of VO2 max?
Identify the location and function of chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors that are thought to play a role in the regulation of breathing.
Discuss the neural-humoral theory of respiratory control during exercise.
