Describe VO2 max
Fitness can be measured by the volume of oxygen you can consume while exercising at your maximum capacity. VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen in milliliters, one can use in one minute per kilogram of body weight. Those who are ‘fitter’ have higher VO2 max values and can exercise more intensely than those who are not as well conditioned.
Heart Adaptation
Describe the cardiovascular adaptation resulting from endurance exercise training
- The myocardium (muscular tissue of the heart) increases in thickness
- The left ventricles internal dimensions increase
Diastolic VS Systolic
systolic blood pressure: the force exerted by the blood on the arterial walls during ventricular contraction
diastolic blood pressure: the force exerted by the blood on the arterial walls during ventricular relaxation
How many chambers are within the heart
Name them
4 chambers
Left and Right Atrium
Left and Right Ventricle
Explain cardiovascular drift
An increase of body temperature results in a lower venous return to the heart, a small decrease in blood volume from sweating. A reduction in stroke volume causes the heart rate to increase to maintain cardiac output.
Blood viscosity, if the blood is thinker and more viscous, it makes it more difficult to be returned back (up gravity) to the heart to pick up more oxygen.
Stroke Volume
Describe the cardiovascular adaptation resulting from endurance exercise training
- The increase in size of the heart enables the left ventricle to stretch more and thus fill with more blood.
- The increase in muscle wall thickness also increases the contractility resulting in increased stroke volume at rest and during exercise, increasing blood supply to the body
Discuss how systolic and diastolic blood pressure respond to static and dynamic exercise
Although blood pressure goes up during any kind of exercise, the exact changes (figures) are different according to whether the exercise is static or dynamic.
Where does the process of blood go through the heart to start.
Superior Vena Cava
Hormonal Control
Cardiac Output
Describe the cardiovascular adaptation resulting from endurance exercise training
- Cardiac output increases exponentially during maximal exercise, because of increases stroke volume.
- This results in a greater oxygen supply, waste removal and hence improved endurance performance.
Static Exercise (or isometric)
defined as a sustained contraction of a muscle group where the muscle is contracted but there is no change in muscle length: eg weight lifting, yoga
Describe the sympathetic nervous system?
Sympathetic system stimulates the heart to beat faster; due to multiple factors. During exercise, 3 receptors are stimulated; proprioceptors, baroreceptors, chemoreceptors. The receptors send impulses (action potentials) to the cardiac control centre (medulla oblongata), which then sends an impulse through the sympathetic nervous system to stimulate the SA node of the heart where the heart rate increases.
Autonomic Nervous System
Responsible for control of involuntary or visceral bodily functions. The atonomic nervous system comprises of the sympathetic system and the parasympathetic system. The sympathetic system stimulates the heart to beat faster. The parasympathetic system returns the heart to its resting rate. The cardiac control centre controls these two systems. The cardiac control system is located in the medulla oblongata of the brain.
Muscular Adaptations
Describe the cardiovascular adaptation resulting from endurance exercise training
- increased capillarization of the trained muscles.
- improvements in the vasculature efficiency
Why does Systolic blood pressure increase?
Volume of blood + contraction rate a larger amount of blood is being pumped through the arteries with each contraction;
Pulmonary Circulation VS Systemic circulation
Pulmonary circulation: is the portion of the cardiovascular system that carries oxygen-depleted blood away from the heart and to the lungs and then returns it, oxygenated, back to the heart.
Systematic circulation: is the portion of the cardiovascular system that carries the oxygenated blood away from the heart and delivers it to the body. It also carries the deoxygenated blood after use back to the heart to be re-oxygenated.
Distinguish between the functions of erythrocytes (RBC), leucocytes (WBC) and platelets
erythrocytes: Make up 40-45% of the blood volume known as hematocrit. Contain an oxygen-carrying pigment called haemoglobin, which gives blood its red color.
leucocytes: White blood cells <1% of blood volume, primarily involved in immune fuction and protecting body from infection. They do this by ingesting foreign microbes in a process called phagocytosis.
platelets: <1% of blood volume. Assist in the provess of repair following an injurt
Blood
Describe the cardiovascular adaptation resulting from endurance exercise training
- resting blood pressure decreases as a result of improved cardiovascular factors.
- increase in blood plasma
- red blood cell volume and haemoglobin
Why does Diastolic blood pressure increase?
The pressure on the arterial walls is increased even during relaxation
The vasoconstriction creates an increase in pressure
Muscles squeeze the veins to promote venous return, by doing so increases pressure
During static exercise, breathing is more constricted, there is less oxygen and more carbon dioxide, the heart must work harder to pump the blood it does have to supply the muscles with sufficient oxygen to continue the static exercise
Describe the Parasympathetic nervous system?
Parasympathetic Nervous System
When exercise stops, the receptors pick up decreases in co2 levels, blood pressure and muscle movement; hence impulses are sent to the cardiac control centre (medulla oblongata). An impulse is sent to the parasympathetic nervous system which stimulates the SA node and heart rate decreases.