# Respiratory adaptation > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Respiratory_adaptation > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Respiratory_adaptation.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respiratory_adaptation > Source revision: 1292349323 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Breathing changes caused by exertion This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Respiratory adaptation" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) **Respiratory adaptation** is the specific change that the [respiratory system](/source/Respiratory_system) undergoes in response to the demands of [physical exertion](/source/Physical_exercise). Intense physical exertion, such as that involved in [fitness training](/source/Fitness_training), places elevated demands on the respiratory system. Over time, this results in respiratory changes as the system adapts to these requirements.[1] These changes ultimately result in an increased exchange of [oxygen](/source/Oxygen) and [carbon dioxide](/source/Carbon_dioxide), which is accompanied by an increase in [metabolism](/source/Metabolism).[2] Respiratory adaptation is a physiological determinant of peak endurance performance, and in elite athletes, the pulmonary system is often a limiting factor to exercise under certain conditions.[3] ## Neural control Respiratory adaptation begins almost immediately after the initiation of the physical [stress](/source/Stress_(biology)) associated with exercise. This triggers signals from the [motor cortex](/source/Motor_cortex) that stimulate the respiratory center of the [brain stem](/source/Brainstem), in conjunction with feedback from the [proprioreceptors](/source/Proprioception) in the muscles and joints of the active limbs.[4] ## Breathing rate With higher intensity training, [breathing rate](/source/Breathing_rate) is increased in order to allow more air to move in and out of the lungs, which enhances gas exchange. [Endurance training](/source/Endurance_training) typically results in an increase in the respiration rate.[4] ## Lung capacity With adaptation, [lung capacity](/source/Tidal_volume) increases, allowing a greater quantity of air to move in and out. Endurance training typically results in an increase in [tidal volume](/source/Tidal_volume).[4] ## Respiratory muscles Muscles involved in respiration, including the [diaphragm](/source/Thoracic_diaphragm) and [intercostal muscles](/source/Intercostal_muscles), increase in strength and endurance. This results in an improved ability to breathe in more air, for longer amounts of time with less fatigue. [Aerobic training](/source/Aerobic_exercise) typically improves the endurance of respiratory muscles, whereas [anaerobic training](/source/Anaerobic_exercise) tends to increase the size and strength of respiratory muscles. [1] ## Lung capillaries Exercise increases the [vascularization](/source/Vascularization) of the lungs. This allows the more blood flow in and out of the lungs. This enhances the uptake of oxygen, since there is greater surface area for blood to bind with [haemoglobin](/source/Haemoglobin).[1] ## Alveoli Respiratory adaptation results an increase in the number of [alveoli](/source/Pulmonary_alveolus), which enables more gas exchange to occur. This is coupled with an increase in alveolar oxygen tension.[5] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_1-2) ["Respiratory System Adaptations to Exercise"](http://www.ptdirect.com/training-design/anatomy-and-physiology/chronic-respiratory-adaptations-to-exercise). *www.ptdirect.com*. PT Direct. Retrieved 2016-04-05. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Alley, Thomas R. (2014-02-25). ["Food sharing and empathic emotion regulation: an evolutionary perspective"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3933786). *Frontiers in Psychology*. **5**: 121. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00121](https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2014.00121). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1664-1078](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1664-1078). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [3933786](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3933786). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [24611057](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24611057). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** McKenzie, Donald C. (2012-05-01). "Respiratory physiology: adaptations to high-level exercise". *British Journal of Sports Medicine*. **46** (6): 381–384. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1136/bjsports-2011-090824](https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fbjsports-2011-090824). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1473-0480](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1473-0480). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [22267571](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22267571). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [20618633](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:20618633). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_4-2) "Physiologic Responses and Long-Term Adaptations to Exercise". [*Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General*](https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/pdf/chap3.pdf) (PDF). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1999. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Hurtado, Alberto (30 September 1934). ["Respiratory adaptation to anoxemia"](http://ajplegacy.physiology.org/content/109/4/626.article-info). *American Journal of Physiology*. **109** (4): 626–637. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1152/ajplegacy.1934.109.4.626](https://doi.org/10.1152%2Fajplegacy.1934.109.4.626). Retrieved 4 April 2016. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Respiratory adaptation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respiratory_adaptation) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respiratory_adaptation?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.