Read the questions in each activity and post your answers in the forum assigned for each activity:
A. ACTIVITY
Briefly explain the main cause or mechanism of increase in respiratory rate or depth and/or respiratory difficulties in the following cases: (one to two sentences only)
1. Initiation of exercise
To accomplish our exercise routines, the body requires more energy depending on the intensity of the exercise. To maintain equilibrium and keep up with the body's demand for oxygen, our breathing rate increases to deliver more oxygen to our organs and initiate aerobic respiration to generate more energy.
2. Moderate exercise
Moderate exercise requires a lot more energy than we usually need to accomplish the task. Thus, breathing rate increases to gather more oxygen to distribute to the organs and generate energy.
3. Abrupt ascent into high altitudes
There is is less oxygen in the atmosphere at higher altitudes. As a result, there is less oxygen going into our blood, so our breathing rate increases so that we can take in more oxygen into the body and supply our blood and organs with more oxygen.
4. Paralysis of phrenic nerve
The phrenic nerve is the nerve responsible for sending nerve signals for the diaphragm to contract and give the lungs space to expand and inhale. Thus, if the phrenic nerve is paralyzed, breathing difficulties occur as the diaphragm does not contract, which hinders inhalation.
5. Severe anemia
Anemia is a condition wherein there is a decreased level of hemoglobin in the body, which results in a reduced capacity for the blood to provide organs with oxygen. Breathing rate increases when the patient has severe anemia to cope with the increased demands for oxygen in the body.
6. Advanced pregnancy
During pregnancy, hormonal changes affect the mother's breathing rate and lung resistance. Physically, the rising of the uterus along the abdomen changes the angle of the lower ribs and the lung capacity.