Functional reaction of the human body to different ways of respiration regulation

Reactions of the body to different ways of regulation of respiration, i.e., through the elastic resistance to respiratory movements and external dead space volume, as well as voluntary hyper- and hypoventilation, were studied. An increased elastic resistance to respiratory movements was established to create conditions for intense loading of respiratory musculature and to determine an increased in oxygen consumption. An increase in the external dead space produces a marked complex reaction of the body to the hypoxichypercapnic content of the inhaled gas mixture, causing hyperventilation and heightened work of the respiratory musculature and stimulating metabolism. Voluntary hyperventilation during muscular effort leads to a state of relative hypocapnia, gross loss of efficiency, and economic external respiration and gas exchange. Voluntary hypoventilation in the course of muscular effort brings about marked shifts in gas homeostasis towards alveolar hypoxia and hypercapnia. A concurrent increase in the efficiency and economy of external respiration and gas exchange is observed.