Cardiovascular Physiology

Question 1

VO2 (volume of oxygen)

Answer 1

product of oxygenated blood pumped from the heart per min called cardiac output (CO) and the amount of that oxygen used by bodily cells at a given time measured as (a-v) O2 difference

Easier info
Max amount of oxygen that someone can utilize during intense or maximal exercise

Question 2

Cardiac output

Answer 2

heart rate x stroke volume

Question 3

(a-v) O2 difference

Answer 3

difference in oxygen saturation when comparing the arteries and veins (blood leaving and returning to the heart); it indicates the level of oxygen uptake efficiency of working muscles and other tissues

Question 4

Stroke volume

Answer 4

volume of blood expelled per contraction from the left ventricle during each heartbeat

Question 5

Diastole

Answer 5

the relaxation state of the heart in between heart beats in which the atrial chambers fill with blood

Question 6

Systole

Answer 6

the contraction state of the heart during heart beats when the ventricles pump blood out to the body

Question 7

The heart repeatedly fills with blood which it pushes out to the

Answer 7

lungs via the pulmonary artery – there CO2 is exchanged for oxygen

Question 8

Hemoglobin

Answer 8

Protein found in red blood cells that helps to transport oxygen to all tissues

Question 9

Myocardium (heart/cardiac muscle)

Answer 9

specialized to allow for continuous contractions via an enhanced sarcoplasmic reticulum and calcium delivery system to allow it to manage rapid and non-stop neural impulses

Question 10

Arteries

Answer 10

: large, muscular-walled vessels suited for transporting oxygenated blood away from the heart to bodily tissues

Question 11

Arterioles

Answer 11

: smaller, thinner-walled arteries that serve as the connecting units to capillaries

Question 12

Capillaries

Answer 12

: smallest vessels with the thinnest walls which allow for oxygen and nutrient exchange as well as waste product removal from muscles, organs, and other tissues

Question 13

Venous pooling and a proper cool down:

Answer 13

An adequate cool down period after intense exercise is needed so that rapid blood flow back to the heart is not impeded.

Venous blood pooling can cause acute ischemia, leg heaviness, fainting or even a life-threatening cardiac episode among older adults

Question 14

Veins

Answer 14

: serve to pump deoxygenated blood back to the heart and lungs via special valves

Question 15

Role of blood

Answer 15

Blood is shunted throughout the body based on need:

It flows quickly through large arteries to transport oxygenated blood

It flows slowly through capillaries to allow for oxygen and waste product diffusion across their thin walls

It flows quickly through larger veins to get deoxygenated blood back to the heart and maintain cardiac output

Question 16

Aerobic Training and Cardiac Output facts

Answer 16

As detailed earlier, cardiac output is the total volume of blood available for use by all bodily tissues as dictated by heart rate and stroke volume

Males tend to have higher CO and VO2max due to larger heart sizes and more muscle mass

Endurance training can improve cardiac output by improving the heart’s capacity to pump blood to working tissues via:

Increased ventricular mass and strength
An increased volume of blood expelled per heart beat

Question 17

Higher cardiac output =

Answer 17

reduced resting and submaximal exercise heart rates - this explains why resting heart rate is a measure of cardiovascular fitness – as CRF goes up heart rate goes down reciprocally

Question 18

Understanding blood pressure

Answer 18

Blood pressure: measure of force exerted by circulating blood against arterial walls; it is modulated in response to activity, nutrition, body size, and health status

Diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure are measured during diastole and systole of the heart
Blood pressure = cardiac output x total peripheral resistance

Blood pressure is managed via baroreceptors located in major arteries which can promote dilation or constriction

Question 19

Baroreceptors

Answer 19

: specialized receptors in the large arteries that detect changes in pressure and inform the central nervous system to decrease/increase blood pressure or heart rate

During exercise or high-stress situations:
Heart rate increases → which increases cardiac output → which increases blood pressure

Aerobic exercise increases mean arterial pressure much less than weightlifting; especially when using the Valsalva maneuver

Question 20

Valsalva maneuver

Answer 20

: attempting to move a heavy load while holding one’s breath; it is contraindicated for those with hypertension

Question 21

Hypertension

Answer 21

: clinical diagnosis of high blood pressure that has a negative impact on cardiovascular function and causes vascular damage over time

Question 22

Radial and carotid pulse assessment

Answer 22

Radial- arm
Carotid- head/neck

Question 23

Circulation and Oxygen Delivery During Exercise

Answer 23

Mechanisms that regulate blood flow to working muscles:

Central nervous system via adjustments in mean blood pressure and shunting of flow from one area to another

Hormonal communication between tissues that impacts blood flow characteristics (dilation, constriction)

Increased capillary activity in muscles that need the most oxygen (muscles will increase in size during resistance training due to blood flow

Question 24

Cirulation for the heart:

Answer 24

The heart’s oxygen demand increases during exercise, requiring coronary blood flow to increase as the workload increases

To estimate the oxygen demands placed upon the heart during a given activity, systolic blood pressure is multiplied by heart rate to give a rate pressure product value

Question 25

Rate pressure product RPP

Answer 25

estimate of myocardial oxygen demand and efficiency as well as cardiovascular disease risk; low fitness or cardiovascular compromise increase the value

Values over 11,000 are considered high risk

Question 26

Ventilation During Exercise

Answer 26

Increased workload placed on the heart during exercise expedites an increase in ventilation (breathing) rate to meet oxygen demands

Once an individual’s lactate threshold has been crossed, breathing rate spikes quickly

Question 27

Lactate threshold

Answer 27

: maximal intensity of work that a steady state condition can be maintained; lactate accumulation begins to exceed removal which indicates acidity in the tissue and blood