the cardiorespiratory system Flashcards
respiratory system
lungs and muscles responsible for breathing
cardiovascular system
heart and blood vessels
functions of respiratory
to supply sufficient oxygen to meet the tissue demands of the body
to eliminate waste products (C02) from cellular environment
structure of the lungs
left lung has 2 lobes, right has 3 - heart is on the left
each lung surrounded by a pleural membrane that is filled with pleural fluid - provides space needed for expansion + regulates pressure
lungs are only direct contact between blood and external environment
saturated with mass of air sacs and blood vessels
functions of the lungs
provide continuous flow of oxygen into the bodily tissues
disruption to this process will not only hinder exercise performance but may also result in severe tissue damage - and even death
passage of air order
Pharynx Larynx Trachea Bronchi Bronchioles Alveoli Capillaries
atmospheric air
the air that surrounds the body and is used during breathing/respiration
gases and percentages inhaled
oxygen = 21%
carbon dioxide = 0.04%
nitrogen = 78%
gases and percentages exhaled
oxygen = 16%
carbon dioxide = 4%
nitrogen = 78%
spirometry test
measures the volume of air moving out of the respiratory tract under different conditions (e.g rest, exercise)
asthma
caused by sensitive airways becoming inflamed when exposed to triggers
COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder - umbrella term used to describe a number of irreversible lung diseases
Tidal Volume
describes the volume of air moved into or out of lungs with each breath - inspired and expired usually the same
Residual Volume
the volume of air remaining in the lungs following maximum expiration
vital capacity
maximum volume of expired gases following a maximum inspiration. VC is made up of tidal volume and forced inspired and expired volumes
total lung capacity
the maximum volume of air within the lungs
measured by adding the residual volume to the vital capacity
Valsalva manoeuvre
respiratory technique that involves the closing of the narrowest part of the trachea following a maximum inhalation in order to increase intrathoracic pressure
risks of the Valsalva manoeuvre
increased intrathoracic and abdominal pressure - reduces return of blood to the heart
dizziness and loss of consciousness
blood clots can detach causing wounds to reopen
prolonged Valsalva when the glottis reopens, an overshoot in blood pressure occurs placing additional and unnecessary strain on the cardiovascular system
functions of the cardiovascular system
transports blood to almost all of the body’s tissues
transports nutrients and gases
removal of waste products and gases
thermoregulation
also other physiological functions specific to structures within this system (e.g. heart)
structure of the cardiovascular
1) pulmonary circulation - the transportation of blood between the heart and lungs ~ pulmonary artery - lungs - pulmonary vein
2) systemic circulation - the transportation of blood between the tissues of the body and the heart (aorta - bodily tissue - vena cava)
Function of the heart
pump deoxygenated blood from the tissues and to the lungs
pump oxygenated blood to the body’s tissue to be used as an energy source
passage of blood through heart
1) deoxygenated blood enters right atrium via inferior and superior vena cava.
passes through one way valve and into right ventricle
then ejected towards lungs through pulmonary artery
in lungs blood deposits its c02 which is then exhaled and collects more oxygen making the blood oxygenated
2) oxygenated blood enters the left atrium via pulmonary vein into left ventricle. then ejected into the aorta
branching off the aorta are the coronary arteries which feed heart’s cardiac tissues to supply with oxygen
cardiac cycle
refers to complete heartbeat and the pathway taken by the blood as a consequence
1) systole = the beating/pumping phase of heartbeat
2) diastole = the relaxing/filling phase of the heartbeat
coronary circulation
the body’s blood and nutrient supply passes through heart but none is actually absorbed by heart’s muscle tissue.
the heart instead receives its nutrients and removes waste products from coronary circulation system
high blood pressure
makes it difficult for the heart to empty its blood into already full aorta
low blood pressure
more challenging to move blood through arteries, veins and capillaries
dizziness and fainting are common because of reduced oxygen to your brain
measuring blood pressure
measured using a sphygmomanometer - millimetres of mercury
1) systolic - this is the first and largest number and represents the pressure within the arteries as the heart contracts
2) diastolic - the pressure in the arteries during relaxation period between heart beats
normal blood pressures = 120/80
hypertension
abnormally high blood pressure - resting = greater than 140/90 mmHg
strongly associated with coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease
hypotension
low blood pressure = below 90/60mmHg
hypertension risk factors
modifiable and non-modifiable
modifiable risk factors (hypertension)
excess salt intake high intake fatty/processed foods being overweight/obese excess alcohol consumption too little activity high levels mental stress/mental illness smoking high cholesterol
non-modifiable risks of high blood pressure
age race/ethnicity genes gender kidney disease
complications of hypertension
heart attack renal failure blood vessel damage neurological retinopathy headache
maximum heart rate
can estimate individuals maximum heart rate with the formula:
220 - age = MHR
recommended 55-90% of MHR to induce positive cardiovascular benefits
%MHR and training zone
50-60% fat burning zone 60-70% moderate aerobic zone 70-80% aerobic zone 80-90% peak performance zone 90-100% maximum zone
cardiac output
stroke volume x heart rate = cardiac outptut
V02 max
measure of the efficiency of cardiovascular system. represents the maximum volume of oxygen that the cardiorespiratory system can take in, deliver and be used.
often described as one’s ‘maximum oxygen uptake’ or ‘maximum oxygen consumption’
can be measured in litres per minute or millimetres per minute for every kg of body weight
blood vessels and blood
blood vessels adapt to increased levels of activity via the following 2 mechanisms:
1) dilation = during increased levels of activity, body’s tissues demand more oxygen and nutrients that are carried in the blood
increases in heart rate and blood pressure causes vessel walls to stretch
2) constriction = occurs simultaneously to dilation but in arteries that deliver blood to non-working areas.
brain signals smooth muscle within the vessel to contract which narrows the vessel and reduces the volume of blood that can pass through
Arteries
largest of three blood vessels
contain thick muscular and elastic walls that allow them to cope with blood under high pressure
carry oxygenated blood with exception of pulmonary artery
arteries always carry blood away from heart
largest artery is aorta
the further away the arteries are from the heart, the smaller they are
arterioles
smaller and narrower branches of the arteries and reduce speed at which blood enters the tissue area.
become progressively smaller before forming a capillary at the site where the oxygen exchange takes place
veins
second largest of blood vessel family
transport deoxygenated blood with exception of pulmonary vein
veins carry blood towards the heart
largest veins are inferior and superior vena cava
smaller branches of veins are called ‘venules’ - responsible for removal of waste (C02) from capillary
contain specialised valves that prevent back flow of blood
capillaries
narrowest and thinnest blood vessels and saturate every living tissue
where all gaseous exchanges take place - as only on cell thick
regular and effective cardiovascular exercise promotes growth and development of the capillary network
also means the cardiovascular system will be able to deposit more oxygen and remove more waste = capillarisation
artery disease
also = PAD (peripheral artery disease) and PVD (peripheral vascular disease)
form of cardiovascular disease
occurs when fatty deposits/’atheromas’ form in the blood - the build up restricts blood flow = ‘atherosclerosis’
risks of atherosclerosis
smoking diabetes (type 1 and 2) high blood pressure high cholesterol age gender (men at greater risk)
arteriosclerosis
similar to atherosclerosis but artery becomes thicker, harder and denser = loses ability to stretch
Blood amount in body
9-11 pints of blood in body
Blood composition
WHITE BLOOD CELLS - primarily fight infection
PLASMA - makes up approx 55% of blood volume - contains salts (electrolytes), hormones and fats
PLATELETS - disc shaped structures about 20% the size of red blood cells - produced in bone marrow and essential clotting agents that stem bleeding
HAEMOGLOBIN - proteins carried by red blood cells to transport oxygen - each one can carry 4 molecules of oxygen
RED BLOOD CELLS - produce in bone marrow - primarily responsible for the transportation of oxygen and the removal of C02
cardiorespiratory response to exercise
increased heart rate increased blood pressure increased stroke volume increased cardiac output dilation of arteries increase tidal volume increased body temperature
cardiorespiratory adaptations to exercise
a reduced resting heart rate
reduced resting blood pressure
cardiac hypertrophy, particularly on the left side of the heart
increased stroke volume
increased breathing efficiency
capillarisation around the alveoli and in the active muscles
increased size and number of alveoli
increased blood plasma volume
increased concentration of haemoglobin
reduced cholesterol levels
increased strength of respiratory muscles
common forms of heart disease
high blood pressure high cholesterol hardening of the arteries narrowing of the arteries congestive heart failure angina stroke
primary risk factors of heart disease
hereditary factors gender age high blood pressure smoking
secondary risk factors of heart disease
physical inactivity obesity and overweight diabetes stress alcohol
