AQA · A-Level · Physical Education
Course version: 7582 · Version from Sept 2016
Receptors involved in regulation of pulmonary ventilation during physical…
Full specification wording
Respiratory system: Receptors involved in regulation of pulmonary ventilation during physical activity.
Pulmonary ventilation is adjusted during physical activity by sensory receptors that detect chemical and mechanical change and feed information to the respiratory centres in the brainstem.
Checked against the AQA 7582 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 13 of 17
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Pulmonary ventilation is adjusted during physical activity by sensory receptors that detect chemical and mechanical change and feed information to the respiratory centres in the brainstem. Chemoreceptors monitor blood and cerebrospinal fluid chemistry, sensing rising carbon dioxide concentration, falling pH and falling oxygen concentration, and increase ventilation when these change. Proprioceptors in muscles, tendons and joints detect movement and limb position, so ventilation rises at the onset of exercise before blood chemistry has altered. Baroreceptors in blood vessel walls detect changes in blood pressure and contribute to cardiovascular and respiratory adjustment. Together these inputs allow ventilation to match the increased oxygen demand and carbon dioxide production of working muscles.
What earns the marks
- Chemoreceptors detect chemical changes, including rising carbon dioxide concentration, falling pH and falling oxygen concentration in blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
- Chemoreceptors send impulses to the respiratory centres, which increase the rate and depth of pulmonary ventilation.
- Proprioceptors in muscles, tendons and joints detect movement and limb position, raising ventilation at the start of exercise.
- Baroreceptors in blood vessel walls detect changes in blood pressure and contribute to the regulation of ventilation during activity.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Thinking only oxygen is monitored.
Put it right: Chemoreceptors respond strongly to rising carbon dioxide concentration and falling pH as well as falling oxygen concentration.
Confusing proprioceptors with chemoreceptors.
Put it right: Proprioceptors detect movement and limb position, not blood chemistry.
Placing baroreceptors in the lungs.
Put it right: Baroreceptors sit in blood vessel walls and detect blood pressure change.
Assuming ventilation rises only after blood chemistry changes.
Put it right: Proprioceptor input raises ventilation at the onset of exercise.
Exam tips
- Name the receptor, state what it detects and link it to the change in ventilation.
- Use precise terms such as carbon dioxide concentration, pH and blood pressure rather than vague wording like 'chemicals'.
- Check each option against the receptor's location and stimulus before choosing.
Try the lesson
The start of the Respiratory system: Receptors involved in regulation of pulmonary ventilation during physical activity. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which receptors detect changes in the chemical composition of the blood and help regulate pulmonary ventilation during exercise?
Listen
Pulmonary ventilation is adjusted during physical activity by sensory receptors that detect chemical and mechanical change and feed information to the respiratory centres in the brainstem. Chemoreceptors monitor blood and cerebrospinal fluid chemistry, sensing rising carbon dioxide concentration, falling pH and falling oxygen concentration, and increase ventilation when these change. Proprioceptors in muscles, tendons and joints detect movement and limb position, so ventilation rises at the onset of exercise before blood chemistry has altered. Baroreceptors in blood vessel walls detect changes in blood pressure and contribute to cardiovascular and respiratory adjustment. Together these inputs allow ventilation to match the increased oxygen demand and carbon dioxide production of working muscles. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Chemoreceptors detect chemical changes, including rising carbon dioxide concentration, falling pH and falling oxygen concentration in blood or cerebrospinal fluid. Chemoreceptors send impulses to the respiratory centres, which increase the rate and depth of pulmonary ventilation. Proprioceptors in muscles, tendons and joints detect movement and limb position, raising ventilation at the start of exercise. Baroreceptors in blood vessel walls detect changes in blood pressure and contribute to the regulation of ventilation during activity. Exam tip: Name the receptor, state what it detects and link it to the change in ventilation.
See it
Key words
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Chemoreceptors
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Proprioceptors
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Baroreceptors
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Respiratory centres
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See every definition
- Chemoreceptors
- Receptors that monitor blood and cerebrospinal fluid chemistry, sensing rising carbon dioxide concentration, falling pH and falling oxygen concentration.
- Proprioceptors
- Receptors in muscles, tendons and joints that detect movement and limb position, so ventilation rises at the onset of exercise before blood chemistry has altered.
- Baroreceptors
- Receptors in blood vessel walls that detect changes in blood pressure and contribute to cardiovascular and respiratory adjustment.
- Respiratory centres
- Centres in the brainstem that receive information from sensory receptors and increase the rate and depth of pulmonary ventilation.
Label the diagram
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1Box 1
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