ACCELERATED RESPIRATION Meaning and
Definition
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Accelerated respiration refers to an increased rate of breathing or respiratory activity in an organism. It is a physiological response that occurs in various situations, such as during physical exertion, in response to certain emotional states, or as a result of certain medical conditions.
During accelerated respiration, an individual takes in more breaths per minute compared to their normal breathing rate. This increased respiratory activity is often accompanied by a faster heartbeat and increased oxygen consumption. The purpose of accelerated respiration is to facilitate the exchange of gases, primarily oxygen and carbon dioxide, between the body and the environment.
The main factor driving accelerated respiration is the increased demand for oxygen by the body's tissues. When engaged in strenuous physical activity, such as exercise or sports, the muscles require more oxygen to produce energy. Similarly, during periods of stress or anxiety, accelerated respiration helps supply the body with sufficient oxygen to deal with the heightened arousal.
In some cases, accelerated respiration may be indicative of an underlying medical condition. For instance, respiratory disorders like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may result in chronic accelerated respiration. Additionally, certain illnesses or infections can cause an acute increase in respiratory rate as the body attempts to counteract the impact of the condition.
Overall, accelerated respiration is a normal physiological response aimed at ensuring adequate oxygen supply to meet the increased metabolic demands of the body, whether in response to physical exertion, emotional states, or medical conditions.
Etymology of ACCELERATED RESPIRATION
The term "accelerated respiration" does not have a specific etymology, as it is a combination of two words: "accelerated" and "respiration".
The word "accelerated" comes from the Latin word "acceleratus", which is the past participle of the verb "accelerare", meaning "to hasten" or "to speed up". It is derived from "ad-" (meaning "to" or "towards") and "celerare" (meaning "to quicken" or "to hasten").
The word "respiration" comes from the Latin word "respiratio", meaning "breathing". It is derived from the verb "respirare", which means "to breathe". This Latin verb is a combination of "re-" (indicating repetition) and "spirare" (meaning "to breathe" or "to blow").
