Introduction

Your respiratory system allows you to obtain oxygen, eliminate carbon dioxide, and regulate the blood’s pH level. Ventilation refers to the movement of air between the lungs and the environment. The process of taking in air is known as inspiration, while the process of blowing out air is called expiration. A respiratory cycle consists of one inspiration and one expiration.

The rate at which your body performs a respiratory cycle is dependent upon the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood, although the control of respiratory patterns by the brain is complex. The respiratory centers in the brain stem receive input from a variety of sources, including mechanoreceptors, chemoreceptors, the hypothalamus and the cerebral cortex. The respiratory centers can alter breathing to change both depth and rate of ventilation. While basic respiratory patterns fall under control of the autonomic nervous system (especially while sleeping), they can be overridden by cerebral cortex to allow activities such as speaking, singing, or playing a wind instrument.

You will learn how to use the Respiration Belt to monitor the respiratory patterns of one member of your group under different conditions. A respiration belt will be strapped around the test subject. Each respiratory cycle will be recorded, allowing you to calculate a respiratory rate for comparison at different conditions.

Objectives