Question

During a bike ride, Artie notices that both his breathing frequency and tidal volume increase. Identify three physiological receptors, their location, and what each senses within the body that helped to increase Artie's ventilation during exercise.

Answer 1

During a bike ride, Artie experiences increased breathing frequency and tidal volume due to the activation of central chemoreceptors in the brain, peripheral chemoreceptors in the aortic arch and carotid arteries, and proprioceptors in the muscles, joints, and tendons; all of which detect changes in the body and stimulate the respiratory centers to adjust ventilation.

Step-by-step explanation:

During exercise, Artie's increased breathing frequency and tidal volume are a result of the activation of several physiological receptors that detect changes in his body and stimulate the respiratory centers of the brain to adjust ventilation accordingly. The three key receptors involved are:

• Central chemoreceptors: Located in the brain, these receptors sense changes in the pH and carbon dioxide levels in the cerebrospinal fluid, which in turn reflect the blood's pH and carbon dioxide levels.
  
• Peripheral chemoreceptors: Found in the aortic arch and carotid arteries, they detect changes in the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood, triggering adjustments in ventilation when necessary.
  
• Proprioceptors: Located in muscles, joints, and tendons, proprioceptors sense movement and stretching that occur during exercise, which in return stimulate an increase in ventilation.

When Artie exercises, his central and peripheral chemoreceptors detect the rise in carbon dioxide and potential drop in oxygen, while proprioceptors respond to the physical exertion.


These sensory inputs converge on the respiratory centers of the brain, increasing both the rate and depth of breathing to meet the heightened demand for oxygen and ensure the efficient elimination of carbon dioxide.