Experiemnt 5

DATA

Table 1
	Holding Breath	Rapid Breathing
Before Challenge
Tidal volume (L)
Respiratory rate (breaths/min)
Initial minute ventilation (L/min)
After Challenge
Tidal volume (L)
Respiratory rate (breaths/min)
Minute ventilation (L/min)

Table 2–Exercise
Before Challenge
Tidal volume (L)
Respiratory rate (breaths/min)
Minute ventilation (L/min)
During Challenge
Tidal volume (L)
Respiratory rate (breaths/min)
Minute ventilation (L/min)
After Challenge
Tidal volume (L)
Respiratory rate (breaths/min)
Minute ventilation (L/min)

Data Analysis

1.   Describe the changes in respiratory rates, tidal volumes, and minute ventilations that occurred after each of the following physiologic challenges in terms of CO₂ levels and their effect on respiratory drive:

      (a)  breath holding

respiratory rate: went from breathing 4 breaths to breathing about 3 breaths per minute

 tidal volume: the tidal volume went down from 1.3 to .09 staying almost the same  

minute ventilations: went down

effect on respiratory drive: after a person holds their breath and then begins to breathe again, they will need to replenish their body with the oxygen it needs.

      (b)  rapid breathing

respiratory rate: from 3.3 to 5.3, inhaling more oxygen in to the body

tidal volume:  staying roughly the same from .09 to 1.1

minute ventilations:  increased greatly from .25 to 6.6

effect on respiratory drive: more oxygen taken in to the body in a short period of time

      (c) exercise respiratory rate: tidal volume: minute ventilations: effect on respiratory drive:

respiratory rate:  from 3.9 to 3.1 and back to 3.9

tidal volume:  .15 to 2.5 to .81

minute ventilations: .65 to 6 to 3.1

effect on respiratory drive:  respiratory rate decreased after exercise as the body does not need as much oxygen as it did during exercise

2.   Which challenge caused the greatest change in respiratory rate (pre-challenge vs. post challenge)? Tidal volume? Minute ventilation? Did respiratory rate or tidal volume change the most relative to its resting value?

Pre-challenge caused the greatest change in respiratory rate and tidal volume changed the most relative to its resting value.

3.   How might breathing into a paper bag help someone who is extremely anxious and hyperventilating?

It helps by restoring the carbon dioxide level back to normal.

4.   Some patients with severe emphysema have constant high levels of CO₂ because of inadequate ventilation. The central nervous system breathing center in these patients becomes insensitive to CO₂ and more dependent on the level of O₂, which is low. These patients are said to have “oxygen-dependent respiratory drive.” What might happen if you give such a person high levels of supplemental O₂?

The respiratory system wont have to work as hard along with other systems in the body.

5.   Would breathing pure O₂ help the air hunger experienced by athletes who have just completed a race? Why or why not?

Yes, breathing pure oxygen would help the air hunger because the athlete would be doing the same amount of work with his muscles as he usually does for breathing, but instead he would be breathing in a lot more oxygen than