Investigation regarding the correlation between the gender of a person and

ventilaton rate after physical exersice

Research question:

How does the gender of a Homo sapiens effects the ventilation rate of their lungs after physical
exercise measred using spirometer?

Background information:

The respiratory system is responsible for facilitating inhalation and exhalation. It also adjusts
the temperature and moisture of the air to match the body's needs, delivers oxygen to the
cells, and removes waste gases like carbon dioxide during exhalation. The respiratory system
includes airways, lungs and blood vessels. The respiratory system is made up of many different
parts that work together to insure breathing. The airways bring air into the lungs. Airways
include mouth, nose, sinuses, pharynx, trachea, bronchial tubes, and lungs. Muscles and bones,
such as the diaphragm and ribs, help move the air in and out of the lungs. The exchange of
oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in tiny air sacs in the lungs called alveoli, which are
connected to the blood vessels.

During exercise, the amount of air breathed in and out, known as pulmonary ventilation,
increases in direct proportion to the intensity and metabolic needs of the exercise. There are
two ways that ventilation increases during exercise: by increasing the tidal volume (amount of
air inhaled and exhaled with each breath) and by increasing the respiration rate (number of
breaths per minute). For intense exercise, the breathing rate may increase from a typical
resting rate of 15 breaths per minute to 40-50 breaths per minute. This happeneds because
organism needs more energy to complete physical activity.

There are some differences between male and female respiratory system. At birth, females
have smaller lungs than males with fewer respiratory bronchioles. However, the number of
alveoli per unit area, individual lung units, and alveolar dimensions are similar between sexes,
while boys have larger lungs per unit of stature, resulting in a larger total number of alveoli and
alveolar surface area for a given age and stature.

Ventilation rate is an absolute ventilation flow rate in l/s or m3/s, or an air-change rate relative
to the volume of the space. It can be measured using spirometer. To take a spirometry test
participants are normally asked to inhale fully, so their lungs are completely filled with air, close
their lips tightly around the mouthpiece and than exhale as quickly and forcefully as thay can,
making sure they empty their lungs full.

Dry spirometer

https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/dry-spirometer-7476472497.html
The gender of the participant acted as an independent variable. 7 girls and 7 boys between 16
and 18 years old were randomly allocated in order to participate in the experiment.

The ventilation rate measures after the exercise was a dependent variable. It was measured
using dry spirometer. The dependent variable will be maeasured 15 seconds after the
participant finishes exercising.

Controlled variables:

Variable How to keep it constant? Why is it important?

Duration of the All participants will be This variable must be kept
exersice completing the exercise controlled in order to
for 30 seconds. This is a make sure that the heart
perfect amount of time to beat of the participants
enshure that the physical increased approximately
activity will be similar and blood needed
completable for all the similary more oxygen
prticipants.
Type of an exersice All the participants will be
It is important as the type
asked to stay in plank. of the exercise effects the
energy needed to
complete it. Therefore,
the results are not reliable
if the participants
completing different
tasks.
The age of the Participants are all The age of the
participant allocated from the IBDP perticipants may affect
course, which means that their abilities to complete
all the participants are physical exercises and,
between 16 and 28 years therefore, the stress
old organism gets during the
exercise, which effect the
heart beat and the
amount of oxygen
needed.
Time passed The ventilation rate will The more the rest
between the finish be measured in 15 between the finish of the
of the exersice and seconds after the exercise exercise and the
the spirometery is completed to give measuring process, the
participants some time to calmer is the heart beat
stand up and rest. The and the less oxygen is
time will be measured by needed. It is important to
 researcher using timer. control this variable to
increase the accuracy of
the results
The intensity of the All the participants will be The more intense the
exercise asked to stay in plank as exercise the more energy
this exercise cannot be is needed for it, the
done with different frecuency of the heart
intensity as it is a static beat increases and more
exercise. oxygen is needed. The
data is more reliable when
the exercise is static and
cannot be done with
different intensity.

Hypothesis:
A null hypothesis is that the gender of the participants will not have an influence on the
ventilation rate value.

Alternative hypothesis states that the ventilation rate of female participants will be smaller as
women have smaller lungs than men.

Materials:

Dry spirometer

Yoga carpet

Timer

Disinfectant

Methods and procedures:

Tell the participant what they are expected to do for the experiment and ask them to sign the
concent form

Ask the participants to stay in plank for 30 seconds on yoga carpet

After 30 seconds passed ask the participant to stand

In 15 seconds in order to measure the ventilation rate ask the participant to calmly enhale into
the tube of spirometer

Pepeat the procedure 14 times disinfecting the tube of the spirometer after every participant

Record the results of each participants and fill the table

References:

American Lung Assosiation, “Exercise and lung health”, March, 2020

Cleveland Clinic, “Respiratory system”, October, 2020

National Library of Medicine, “Basic consept of ventilation flow rate”, February, 2016

NHS, “Spirometry”, August, 2015

Oxford, “IB Biology diploma program”, 2014 edition, 729 pages

Pearson, ”IB Biology diploma program HL”, 2014 edition, 858 page

PtDirect, “Respiratory response to exersice”, April, 2015