Kines 314 Exercise and Altitude
Review Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
What is the concept of partial pressure? Why is there less oxygen at
high altitude? -
correct answer ✅Partial pressure is the portion of total
atmospheric pressure that is contributed by a single gas, such as
oxygen.
-> although the percentage of oxygen in the air (20.9%) stays the
same, total barometric pressure drops with altitude, so the partial
pressure of inspired oxygen also decreases.
-> with fewer oxygen molecules per breath, the gradient driving
oxygen from the lungs into the blood becomes smaller, which is
why oxygen availability is reduced at high altitude.
How is arterial oxygen content (CaO2) affected by high altitude? -
correct answer ✅Arterial oxygen content decreases at high
altitude. At higher altitudes, there is less oxygen pressure in the air,
so your blood cannot load as much oxygen onto hemoglobin.
Because of this, hemoglobin saturation drops, which means arterial
oxygen content also drops.
What are the immediate physiological responses of the body during
acute exposure to altitude to maintain oxygen delivery? -
correct answer ✅1. The carotid bodies sense low PaO2 -- big driver
, Kines 314 Exercise and Altitude
Review Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
2. increase ventilation (to bring in more O2)
3. more breathing decreases the partial pressure of arterial CO2 -->
leading to respiratory alkalosis
4. Increased HR at any sub max workload
5. SV stays the same or slightly decreases
6. Increased cardiac output during submax exercise to compensate
for low CaO2
7. Max cardiac output does not increase --> VO2 max decreases
Know the effects of acute exposure to altitude on the elements of
the Fick Equation:
VO₂ = Q * (CaO₂ - CvO₂) during maximal exercise. -
correct answer ✅At altitude, CaO2 decreases because of the lower
partial pressure of oxygen reducing hemoglobin saturation. To
compensate for this, the body increases HR and ventilation, but
maximal CO does not increase, because max HR stays the same and
stroke volume may fall. With a lower CaO2, muscles also extract
slightly less oxygen at max effort, narrowing the a-vO2 difference.
Because both max CO and CaO2 is reduced, VO2 max declines with
acute altitude exposure despite increases in ventilation and HR at
submax.
Review Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
What is the concept of partial pressure? Why is there less oxygen at
high altitude? -
correct answer ✅Partial pressure is the portion of total
atmospheric pressure that is contributed by a single gas, such as
oxygen.
-> although the percentage of oxygen in the air (20.9%) stays the
same, total barometric pressure drops with altitude, so the partial
pressure of inspired oxygen also decreases.
-> with fewer oxygen molecules per breath, the gradient driving
oxygen from the lungs into the blood becomes smaller, which is
why oxygen availability is reduced at high altitude.
How is arterial oxygen content (CaO2) affected by high altitude? -
correct answer ✅Arterial oxygen content decreases at high
altitude. At higher altitudes, there is less oxygen pressure in the air,
so your blood cannot load as much oxygen onto hemoglobin.
Because of this, hemoglobin saturation drops, which means arterial
oxygen content also drops.
What are the immediate physiological responses of the body during
acute exposure to altitude to maintain oxygen delivery? -
correct answer ✅1. The carotid bodies sense low PaO2 -- big driver
, Kines 314 Exercise and Altitude
Review Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
2. increase ventilation (to bring in more O2)
3. more breathing decreases the partial pressure of arterial CO2 -->
leading to respiratory alkalosis
4. Increased HR at any sub max workload
5. SV stays the same or slightly decreases
6. Increased cardiac output during submax exercise to compensate
for low CaO2
7. Max cardiac output does not increase --> VO2 max decreases
Know the effects of acute exposure to altitude on the elements of
the Fick Equation:
VO₂ = Q * (CaO₂ - CvO₂) during maximal exercise. -
correct answer ✅At altitude, CaO2 decreases because of the lower
partial pressure of oxygen reducing hemoglobin saturation. To
compensate for this, the body increases HR and ventilation, but
maximal CO does not increase, because max HR stays the same and
stroke volume may fall. With a lower CaO2, muscles also extract
slightly less oxygen at max effort, narrowing the a-vO2 difference.
Because both max CO and CaO2 is reduced, VO2 max declines with
acute altitude exposure despite increases in ventilation and HR at
submax.
