Final answer:
Exercise improves gas exchange by increasing the body's demand for oxygen and production of carbon dioxide, which raises the respiration rate leading to more oxygen being inhaled and more carbon dioxide being exhaled. Hyperpnea the increased depth and rate of breathing, starts during exercise to meet muscles' greater oxygen demands efficiently.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Does Exercise Improve Gas Exchange:
Exercise enhances the efficiency of gas exchange in the body by increasing the demand for oxygen and the production of carbon dioxide. This increases respiration rate, which in turn results in more oxygen being brought into the lungs and more carbon dioxide being expelled. During exercise various physiological changes occur such as an increase in the ventilation rate and the activation of motor neurons that promote deeper and more frequent breaths.
Moreover, the presence of hyperpnea, which is an increased depth and rate of breathing, happens during exercise before a significant drop in the muscle's oxygen levels occur. This ensures that the muscles receive a steady supply of oxygen to meet their increased demands. The combination of these factors results in a more efficient gas exchange process to support the heightened metabolic processes occurring during physical activity.
As such, through a combination of neurologically driven responses to exercise and increased oxygen demand, blood flow to the lungs improves, and the efficiency of oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange in the alveoli is enhanced.