Respiratory Responses to Acute Exercise

Pulmonary Ventilation During Dynamic Exercise

- The onset of exercise is accompanied by an immediate increase in

ventilation. (anticipatory response) mediated by respiratory control
centers in the brain (central command).
- The more gradual second phase of the respiratory increase shown
during heavy exercise is controlled primarily by changes in the
chemical status of the arterial blood. As exercise progresses,
increased metabolism in the muscles generates more CO2 and H+ .
causing shift the oxyhemoglobin saturation curve leftward,
enhancing oxygen unloading in the muscles, which increases the
(a-v¯)O2 difference.
- Increased CO2 and H+ are sensed by chemoreceptors primarily
located in the brain, carotid bodies, and lungs, which in turn
stimulate the inspiratory center, increasing rate and depth of
respiration. Chemoreceptors in the muscles themselves might also
be involved.
- In addition, receptors in the right ventricle of the heart send
information to the inspiratory center so that increases in cardiac
output can stimulate breathing during the early minutes of exercise.
The influences of CO2 and H+ concentrations in the blood on
breathing rate and pattern serve to fine-tune the neutrally mediated
respiratory response to exercise in order to precisely match oxygen
delivery with aerobic demands without overtaxing respiratory
muscles.