What happen to the lung volumes and capacities during heavy exercise?

Answer 1

Pulmonary ventilation is 6 liters/minute in resting individual. You have a respiratory rate of 12/minute and tidal volume of 500 ml/minute. During heavy exercise tidal volume increases from 10 % of vital capacity to about 50 % of vital capacity. And respiratory rate increases from 12 to about 40 to 45/ minute. Thus increasing the pulmonary ventilation to about 100 liter/minute.

Answer 2

During heavy exercise, both lung volumes and capacities increase. This is because the body requires more oxygen to meet the oxygen demand of the muscles. As a result, the respiratory rate and depth of breathing increases, allowing more air to be inhaled and exhaled, leading to the expansion of lung volumes and capacities.