Lung volumes, pulmonary diffusion and aerobic capacity

Overview

Respiratory muscles, vital capacity, residual volume, tidal volume and total lung capacity, maximal minute ventilation, pulmonary diffusion, the arterio-venous oxygen difference, a worked VO₂ max rise, and heart rate and lactate data after training.

What you need to know

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Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   How do the respiratory muscles adapt to training?

   Model answer

   The diaphragm and intercostal muscles become stronger and more resistant to fatigue. Stronger respiratory muscles make breathing more efficient during prolonged exercise.

2. 2

   Define vital capacity and state how training affects it.

   Model answer

   Vital capacity is the largest volume of air that can be breathed out after the deepest possible breath in. Vital capacity can increase slightly with training.

3. 3

   Define residual volume and state how training affects it.

   Model answer

   Residual volume is the air left in the lungs after a maximal breath out. Residual volume may decrease slightly with training.

4. 4

   How does training affect tidal volume?

   Model answer

   The resting tidal volume changes little with training. Tidal volume during maximal exercise increases, so more air is moved with each breath.

5. 5

   Why does maximal minute ventilation increase after endurance training?

   Model answer

   Tidal volume and breathing frequency can both rise further at maximal effort. Elite endurance athletes can exceed 150 litres per minute.

6. 6

   How does training change breathing at a given sub-maximal workload?

   Model answer

   A trained person breathes less at the same sub-maximal workload. The trained muscles extract oxygen more efficiently, so less air is needed.

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