Cardiovascular Revision Flashcards
Describe the heart as a dual action pump
The first pump carries deoxygenated blood from the body to the lungs
Gaseous exchange occurs delivering oxygenated blood to the heart
The second pump distributes the oxygenated blood throughout the body
Define blood pressure
The force exerted on the inside walls of the blood vessels
Define systolic blood pressure
When the heart pumps blood into the system
Define diastolic pressure
When the heart is releasing and filling with blood
What happens to systolic and diastolic blood pressure during isometric or anaerobic exercise
Rise significantly due to increase resistance of the blood vessels
Describe the oxy-haemoglobin dissociation curve
The amount of haemoglobin saturated with oxygen as it passes through the body
At high partial pressures of oxygen, the percentage of saturation is high (lungs)
At low partial pressures of oxygen, the percentage of saturation is low
Describe the Bohr shift
This is the movement of the oxy-haemoglobin dissociation curve to the right due to the dissociation of oxygen from haemoglobin during exercise
Why does the Bohr shift occur
1 - increases in co2 and lactic acid production making the blood more acidic
2 - increase in blood and muscle temperature due to energy being released from muscular contractions
Define arterial oxygen difference
The amount of blood actually extracted and utilised by the working muscles
Describe the venuous return mechanism
Venuous return is the return of the blood to the right side of the heart via the vena cava
Explain starlings law
Starlings law explains that during exercise the amount of blood returning to the heart increased. This therefore means that more blood can be pumped out and so stroke volume increases
Describe the cardiovascular drift
During steady state exercise, heart rate rises slowly. This is characterised by a decrease in Stroke volume and arterial blood pressure with an increase in heart rate
This process happens due to us sweating in hot environments
