Final answer:
Pulse and breathing rates increase during exercise to meet the higher oxygen demands of the muscles and repay the oxygen debt incurred. This heightened respiratory activity is due to several neural and chemical factors, including the immediate neural response to exercise and the need to restore cellular ATP. Breathing remains elevated post-exercise until the body's oxygen levels are normalized.
Step-by-step explanation:
During exercise, the body's demand for oxygen increases to support the intensified activity of the muscles. This increased demand leads to an oxygen debt, a condition where the body needs more oxygen than what has been supplied during the exercise. To meet this demand and repay the oxygen debt, there is a rise in pulse and breathing rate.
The increased breathing rate or hyperpnea, which includes both an increased rate and depth of breathing, ensures that more oxygen is taken into the lungs and transported to the muscles, while more carbon dioxide is expelled. This response is driven by several factors, including the body's immediate neural responses to exercise involving psychological stimuli, activation of motor neurons, and stimulation of proprioceptors, as well as the need to restore ATP and creatine phosphate levels, convert lactic acid to pyruvic acid, and maintain appropriate blood pH levels.