Cardiovascular System
What is the main function of the cardiovascular system?
To transport oxygen and nutrients around the body and remove wastes such as carbon dioxide.
Name the three types of blood vessels
Arteries, veins and capillaries
What is the main function of the respiratory system?
To bring oxygen into the body and remove carbon dioxide
What happens to the heart rate during exercise?
It increases
What does VO2 max measure?
The maximum amount of oxygen the body can use during intense exercise.
Name the four chambers of the heart
Right Atrium, right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle
Which blood vessel carries blood away from the heart?
Arteries
What are the tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs called?
Alveoli
Name three cardiovascular responses that increase during exercise
Heart Rate, Stroke volume, Cardiac output, Blood pressure
A higher VO₂ max generally indicates a higher level of what type of fitness?
Cardiorespiratory/aerobic fitness
What is the function of the septum?
It separates the left and right sides of the heart, preventing oxygenated and deoxygenated blood from mixing
What is the function of platelets?
Stops or reduces bleeding, Helps seal the damaged blood vessel, Supports the healing process
What happens to the diaphragm during inspiration?
In contracts and moves downward, helping increase the volume of the chest cavity
Why does the body redistribute blood flow during exercise?
To direct more blood toward working muscles so they receive more oxygen/nutrients and can remove waste products.
What is one way to increase VO2 max
Combination of Interval and continuous training, exercise at a high intensity
Which side of the heart contains oxygenated blood, and which side contains deoxygenated blood?
Left = oxygenated; right = deoxygenated
Why are capillaries well suited for exchanging substances between blood and tissues?
Their very thin walls allow substances such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and nutrients to diffuse between blood and surrounding tissues.
Explain why alveoli are surrounded by capillaries
This allows oxygen and carbon dioxide to diffuse efficiently between the air in the lungs and the blood
Explain how the cardiovascular and respiratory systems work together during exercise.
The respiratory system brings oxygen into the lungs and removes carbon dioxide, while the cardiovascular system transports oxygen to working muscles and carries carbon dioxide back to the lungs.
Explain vasodilation and vasoconstriction.
Vasodilation is the widening of blood vessels, while vasoconstriction is the narrowing of blood vessels.
Explain the difference between the pulmonary and systemic circuits.
The pulmonary circuit moves blood between the heart and lungs, while the systemic circuit moves blood between the heart and the rest of the body.
Describe the general pathway of a red blood cell travelling from the body, through the heart and lungs, and back to the body (9 steps)
Body → veins → right side of heart → pulmonary artery → lungs → pulmonary veins → left side of heart → arteries → body.
Describe what happens to oxygen and carbon dioxide at the muscle tissues.
Oxygen diffuses from the blood into the tissues, while carbon dioxide diffuses from the tissues into the blood.
During intense exercise, the muscles produce more carbon dioxide. Explain how the respiratory system responds to help manage this change.
Respiratory rate, tidal volume and ventilation increase, helping increase the removal of carbon dioxide.
Two students have the same maximum heart rate, but Student A has a higher VO₂ max. Explain why maximum heart rate alone cannot determine aerobic fitness.
VO₂ max depends on the body's overall ability to take in, transport and use oxygen, involving both the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, not just heart rate.