Lung volumes and capacities

Before Lab:

1. What is the tool used to collect information on lung volumes?
2. Define tidal volume.
3. What direction does the diaphragm move when it contracts?
4. What is hyperventilation? hypoventilation?
5. Define minute ventilation.
6. What chemical do the “chemoreceptors respond the most sensitively and rapidly to?” (experiment 10b)
7. What question are we investigating in 10b.

After lab:

1. How are lung pressure and lung volume changes related to breathing?
2. What is the driving force behind air flow? (hint: it’s the same as fluid)
3. Define recoil.
4. How is recoil involved in normal exhalation?
5. Define: tidal volume, IRV, ERV, VC, RV and minute ventilation.
6. What two values do we need to calculate total lung capacity?
7. Be able to calculate minute ventilation given values.
8. What happens to lung TLC and VC if lungs lose recoil.
9. What happens to lung TLC and VC if lungs tissue recoil intensifies (ie: with scarring)?
10. What two brain regions contain the respiratory control centers?
11. What are some of the receptors that send information to the respiratory control centers
12. Why are the carotid bodies and the chemoreceptors in the aortic arch important in controlling

breathing? What chemical are they most sensitive to?

1. In experiment 10b, what happens to CO2 in the blood when we hold our breath? How does this affect

minute ventilation?

1. In experiment 10b, what should happen to CO2 in the blood during hyperventilation? As a result, what

should we see happen to respiratory rate?

1. In experiment 10b, what happens to CO2 in the blood when we exercise? How does the body

compensate for this?

1. Why would an oxygen mask not help an athlete who just ran a race?