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Medicine and science in sports and exercise1986; 18(2); 143-155;

J.B. Wolffe memorial lecture. Is the lung built for exercise?

Abstract: In summary, we have shown that the design of the pulmonary system from the architectural capacities of the lung parenchyma and respiratory muscles to the remarkable, multi-level neural integration of breathing pattern and respiratory muscle recruitment is clearly intended for the exercising state. Furthermore, the system shows remarkable capability for true adaptation, both phylogenetically and even within only a few generations within a species, when preservation of the organism's ability to survive and function is at stake. At the same time there are limits to the system's homeostatic capabilities, and these appear in instances other than the "usual" ones, where the capabilities for gas transport and utilization beyond the lung (i.e., by the cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal systems) surpass those of the lung and chest wall, such as during exercise in certain pulmonary disease states or in alien environments or in the highly trained. Exercise-induced hypoxemia in the thoroughbred horse is a different type of dominance of the superior locomotor control system, because their extraordinary capability to produce and sustain a very high limb velocity dictates requirements for airway flow rates which may surpass the mechanical capabilities of the lung and perhaps even the chest wall. So this hypothesis does indeed suggest that the healthy pulmonary system may become a so-called "limiting" factor to oxygen transport and utilization and to CO2 transport and elimination, at least during short-term maximum exercise in the highly trained. On the one hand, the idea is especially appealing in a philosophical sense because of its conceptual tidiness and its confirmation of the premise that no organ system has limitless functional capacity; on the other hand, given the long list of our still untested speculations, we could use a bit more data.
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Publication Date: 1986-04-01 PubMed ID: 3517547
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article examines the design and capability of the pulmonary system, arguing that it is ideally structured for exercise. The study considers the architectural capacities, neural integration, and adaptability of lungs in various contexts but also acknowledges certain limitations in extreme cases when gas transport and utilization capacities are surpassed.

Design and Functionality of the Pulmonary System

  • The research recognizes that the structure and design of the pulmonary system, including the lung parenchyma and respiratory muscles, is in line with the demands of an exercising state. This indicates that the system is purposefully built, not just for rest, but for more active states as well, thus challenging the common notion.
  • Not only is the system designed to accommodate exercise, it also shows a remarkable ability for adaptation at a multi-level, both phylogenetically (across generations within a species) and in response to the immediate needs for survival and functioning of the organism.

Limits to the Pulmonary System

  • The research also acknowledges the limitations of the pulmonary system’s capacity to maintain homeostasis. These limitations manifest in conditions where the requirements for gas transport and utilization, including oxygen and CO2 transport and utilization, swell beyond the capabilities of the lungs and chest wall.
  • Such conditions include when exercising with certain pulmonary diseases, in unfamiliar environments, or even in highly trained individuals. In these cases, the pulmonary system may become a limiting factor to oxygen transport, utilization, and CO2 elimination, at least during short-term maximum exercise.

Implications and Future Research

  • The observation that the pulmonary system can become the limiting factor in oxygen and CO2 transport during certain conditions emphasizes the idea that no organ system has unlimited functional capacity. This is an interesting philosophical concept that requires more empirical investigation.
  • The conclusion calls for additional data to verify the several untested presumptions made in the research. This provides scope for future research to explore and test these hypotheses, and to deepen our understanding of the pulmonary system and its role in exercise and stamina.

Cite This Article

APA
Dempsey JA. (1986). J.B. Wolffe memorial lecture. Is the lung built for exercise? Med Sci Sports Exerc, 18(2), 143-155.

Publication

Medicine and science in sports and exercise
ISSN: 0195-9131
NlmUniqueID: 8005433
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 2
Pages: 143-155

Researcher Affiliations

Dempsey, J A

    MeSH Terms

    • Adaptation, Physiological
    • Animals
    • Biomechanical Phenomena
    • Environment
    • Feedback
    • Homeostasis
    • Horses / physiology
    • Humans
    • Lung / physiology
    • Lung Diseases, Obstructive / physiopathology
    • Muscles / physiology
    • Oxygen Consumption
    • Physical Education and Training
    • Physical Exertion
    • Pulmonary Gas Exchange
    • Respiration
    • Running

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