Why does pulse rate increase during exercise? Oxygen must be moved to the lungs and carbon dioxide must be moved to cells more quickly Carbon dioxide must be moved to the kidneys to be excreted Oxygen and carbon dioxide must be removed from the body ASAP Gas exchange must happen more quickly than when a person is at res
The correct option is ✅ Gas exchange must happen more quickly than when a person is at rest. Explanation Pulse rate (heart rate) increases during exercise to accelerate the transport of blood throughout the body. This is necessary because exercising muscles demand more oxygen for energy production and generate more carbon dioxide as a waste product. A faster pulse ensures that oxygen-rich blood is delivered to these active cells and that carbon dioxide is transported back to the lungs for removal more rapidly than at rest, facilitating efficient gas exchange to meet metabolic demands. Why other options are incorrect ❌ Oxygen must be moved to the lungs and carbon dioxide must be moved to cells more quickly: This is physiologically backward. Oxygen is moved from the lungs to the cells, and carbon dioxide is moved from the cells to the lungs. ❌ Carbon dioxide must be moved to the kidneys to be excreted: While kidneys do help regulate blood pH, the primary route for carbon dioxide excretion is through the lungs via exhalation. ❌ Oxygen and carbon dioxide must be removed from the body ASAP: Oxygen is not a waste product to be removed; it is a vital nutrient that must be taken in and delivered to tissues.
Join our real-time social learning platform and learn together with your friends!