CHAPTER 28 Summary
In-Class Activity
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The respiratory system is a means of taking in oxygen and eliminating carbon dioxide waste. It consists of the respiratory tract and the lungs.-
The respiratory system works in close conjunction with the cardiovascular system. Capillaries in the alveoli of the lungs are the sites of gas exchange between air and blood.
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Breathing is the way we ventilate our lungs and bring fresh air to the site of gas exchange. Ventilation requires a coordinated set of muscle movements that create negative pressure in the lungs to draw air in, and positive pressure to expel air out.
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Breathing rate is controlled by the brain and relies on sensors that detect pH, which is directly related to the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood.
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Oxygen is carried by hemoglobin in red blood cells. Hemoglobin binds reversibly to oxygen, picking it up from the lungs and dropping it off in tissues.
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Extended exposure to low oxygen pressure, such as occurs at high altitude, stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. The growth signal comes from the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), which is secreted by the kidneys.
MORE TO EXPLORE
World Anti-Doping Agency http://www.wadaama.org/
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Wilber, R. (2004) Altitude Training and Athletic Performance. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers.
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Stray-Gundersen, J., et al. (2001) “Living high-training low” altitude training improves sea level performance in male and female elite runners. Journal of Applied Physiology 91:1113–1120.
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Ashenden, M. J., et al. (2001). A comparison of the physiological response to simulated altitude exposure and r-HuEpo administration. Journal of Sports Sciences 19: 831–837
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Beall, C. M., et al. (2010) Natural selection on EPAS1 (HIF2a) associated with low hemoglobin concentration in Tibetan highlanders. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107:11459–11464.
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Shermer, M. 2008. “The Doping Dilemma.” Scientific American. March 31.
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Matson, J. 2012. “Rope a Dope: Drug Testing in Sports Enters a More Aggressive Era.” Scientific American. July 30.