The aim of this experiment was to test the effect of the respiratory process on the lung’s tidal volume when standing and when seated. Our null hypothesis was that if the subject was sitting, the tidal volume of their lungs would decrease and if the subject was standing the tidal volume of their lungs would increase. Throughout this experiment the rate of the tidal volume was recorded along with the total amount of tidal volume for each respiration process that is when both standing and sitting.
After recording the data that we collected from 5 tidal volumes of the trials 1 and 2, the average result from the experiment did support our hypothesis. Our graph showed that there was indeed a difference in tidal volume when the subject was sitting and standing. When standing, the subject showed an increase in the tidal volume of the lungs and when he was seated, there was a decrease in the tidal volume of the chest. These results were actually in agreement with our hypothesis and the stipulations of the hypothesis were therefore true.
The results from the experiment can consequently be explained through a natural respiratory mechanism as will be described below. The reaction of the subject’s body will need oxygen, so their breathing will inadvertently get heavier and the tidal volume will increase. This will also helps the lungs to exhale more carbon dioxide (Steen 34). When the subject inhales, the chest cavity increases making the tidal volume increase. This makes the diaphragm to expand more freely. This particular mechanism or process is the same when both sitting and standing. However, when standing the level of activity will make the subject breath faster and increase the tidal volume. On the other hand, when the subject is sitting and they start to experience breathing fast and the tidal volume increases, this can be attributed to the subject’s body size. When the heart rate increases the body also increases its stimulation from sympatric nerves. Therefore, the subject will breathe at a faster rate using up the oxygen at a quicker rate, which causes tidal volume to increase.
One very important factor that indeed proved to be an advantage to us actually emanated from the subject himself. The subject was very relaxed and therefore, provided more accurate data to support our hypothesis. His physical and emotional state was also exemplary. It is difficult to test if the subject is sick and was not functioning physically at their best state because their respiratory rate would not be normal as a healthy person. This problem may increase or decrease their breathing during the experiment and would have been difficult for the subject to focus on what they are being evaluated for.
There are actually not many variables that needed to be change or added to provide more accurate result for this experiment. I believe that most of the variables that we used were indeed efficient. However, if there were an opportunity to expand on this experiment for the most applicable way to collect the data, I would offer several subjects with ages, genders, heights, and weights difference to see the affect of respiration rate of tidal volume. If this were a global information study scientists would have also included subjects of both young and middle ages with different economic statuses in this particular experiment (Steen 49).
In conclusion, the experiment that we tested clearly related the effects of lungs on the respiratory system when both sitting and standing. A comparison was also made on the two and the factors affecting each organ in the breathing process for the subject’s body to inhale and exhale more carbon dioxide were also established. The experiment was particularly aided very much by the airflow transducer used in the experiment. This experiment provided reasonable information that could indicate the effects of the lung on the respiratory system when sitting and standing.
Works cited
Steen, Johan B. Comparative Physiology of Respiratory Mechanisms. London: Academic P, 2003. Print.
