Anatomy and physiology - Heat And Altitude Flashcards
What happens with increasing altitude
- PO2 in the atmospheric air decreases with increasing altitude
- This affects the efficiency of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems
- The following all decrease with altitude:
• Rate of diffusion
• O2 saturation in the blood stream
• Delivery if blood to the working muscles - These limit aerobic energy production
What do the affects of altitude cause
- Breathing frequency increases as blood and stroke volume decreases to reduce the intensity and duration of performance
Acclimatation
- Takes up to 2 weeks
- The gradual adaptation to the lower PO2 to reduce its negative effects
Benefits of acclimatisation
- Increased EPO
- Increased red blood cell production
- Stabilise breathing rate
- Reduce cardiac output
- Reduce the incidence of ill effects
Cardiovascular drift
Upward drift in heart rate during sustained steady state activity associated with an increase in body temperature
Hyperthermia
Significantly raised core body temperature
Hypothermia
Significantly reduced core body temperature
Altitude
The height or elevation of an area above sea level
Humidity
The amount of water vapour in the atmospheric air
Barometric pressure
The pressure exerted by the earths atmosphere at any given point
Partial pressure
The pressure exerted by an individual has held in a mixture of gasses
Thermorégulation
The process of maintaining internal corse temperature
Thermoreceptors
Sensory receptors which sense a change in temperature and relay information to the brain
Dehydration
Loss of water in body tissues, largely caused by sweating
EPO
A naturally produced hormone responsible responsible for the production of red blood cells
