Which pulmonary volumes would change during exercise and which will not? Explain how AND why they would change.

Question

1.) Tidal Volume
2.) Inspiratory Reserve Volume
3.) Expiratory Reserve Volume
4.) Residual Volume

Thanks for the help

Since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "pulmonary volumes exercise" to get these possible sources:

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=14676440
http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/9/11/1223
http://www.circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/27/4/559
http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/67/5/2055
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0984/is_n5_v103/ai_13879591

I hope this helps. If not, these were only a small portion of the articles listed. You can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search. Thanks for asking.

Answer 1

During exercise, certain pulmonary volumes change to accommodate the body's increased demand for oxygen and the need to expel carbon dioxide more efficiently. Here's how and why they would change during exercise:

1.) Tidal Volume (TV): Tidal volume increases during exercise. This is because the body needs more oxygen to meet its energy requirements and to expel more carbon dioxide produced from increased cellular respiration. TV is the amount of air that is inspired or expired during a normal breath, and as the muscles work harder during exercise, the depth of each breath increases.

2.) Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV): Inspiratory reserve volume decreases during exercise. IRV is the amount of air that can be forcibly inhaled after a normal tidal volume inhalation. As tidal volume increases during exercise, the additional inhaled air is utilized, leaving less air available to contribute to IRV.

3.) Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV): Expiratory reserve volume also decreases during exercise. ERV is the amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled after a normal tidal volume exhalation. Exercise increases the efficiency of expiring carbon dioxide, meaning that more air is expelled during each tidal volume expiration. This leaves less air available to contribute to ERV.

4.) Residual Volume (RV): Residual volume does not change during exercise. RV is the amount of air that remains in the lungs after a maximal exhalation. This air cannot be expelled and is necessary to keep the lungs inflated, even during exercise. Since RV serves as a constant source of oxygen for the body and maintains lung structure, it does not need to be altered during exercise.

In summary, tidal volume increases during exercise, while inspiratory and expiratory reserve volumes decrease. This allows the body to meet its increased oxygen demands and remove carbon dioxide more efficiently. Residual volume remains constant to ensure lung function and a stable source of oxygen even during strenuous exercise.