This new SpringerBrief in Physiology explores the newest research findings on how exercise influences the fetus in utero and beyond. Physiology of Prenatal Exercise and Fetal Development reviews the current findings of how maternal exercise throughout gestation influences fetal development of key organ systems, and also encompasses the relationship between maternal activity level and fetal, birth, and neonatal effects. This information will help researchers and scientists better understand the physiological effects of exercise during pregnancy on offspring development.

Energy balance can be maintained by adapting energy intake to changes in energy expenditure and vice versa, where short-term changes in energy expenditure are mainly caused by physical activity. Questions are whether physical activity is affected by over and under-eating, is intake affected by an increase or a decrease in physical activity, and does overweight affect physical activity? Presented evidence is largely based on studies where physical activity is quantified with doubly labeled water. Overeating does not affect physical activity while under-eating decreases habitual or voluntary...

This volume synthesizes pathways in respiratory mechanics and the dynamics of air-blood and blood-cellular gas exchange for students and teachers in respiratory physiology. The authors strive to make physiology fun to learn. This aspect of knowledge acquisition is reflected in the way topics are approached, for example by using playing cards in what is coined 'Respi-CARDology'. The first section of this book reviews the framework and foundations of basic respiratory physiology. Since this book was not written to be a comprehensive physiology text, the authors have focused on leading students...