8.5 Regulating Oxygen & Carbon Dioxide in Blood
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There are receptors in the brain and other parts of our bodies that monitor the concentration of carbon dioxide and oxygen in our blood stream. When the brain notices a change in the concentration of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the body, the brain sends nerve impulses to the diaphragm which causes the diaphragm to act accordingly.
When we exercise, the cells in our bodies (especially muscle cells) are using greater quantities of oxygen for respiration compared to the quantities that they use when we are not exercising. This leads to a fall in the concentration of oxygen in the blood stream and an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood stream. The brain notices these changes and it responds by sending nerve impulses to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles telling them to increase the breathing rate (or breathing frequency) and to increase the quantity of air that is breathed in. This results in the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood stream changing.
The brain and other areas in the body, are constantly monitoring the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood stream and they constantly make changes to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles to ensure that there is sufficient oxygen in the blood stream.
When we exercise, the cells in our bodies (especially muscle cells) are using greater quantities of oxygen for respiration compared to the quantities that they use when we are not exercising. This leads to a fall in the concentration of oxygen in the blood stream and an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood stream. The brain notices these changes and it responds by sending nerve impulses to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles telling them to increase the breathing rate (or breathing frequency) and to increase the quantity of air that is breathed in. This results in the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood stream changing.
The brain and other areas in the body, are constantly monitoring the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood stream and they constantly make changes to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles to ensure that there is sufficient oxygen in the blood stream.