The Cardiovascular System Flashcards
What is health?
Complete physical, mental and social well-being
What is fitness?
The ability to meet the demands of an environment
What is atherosclerosis?
Occurs when arteries harden and narrow as they become clogged by fatty deposits
What is angina?
Chest pains that occur when the blood supply through coronary arteries to the muscles of the heart are restricted
What is atheroma?
A fatty deposit in the inner lining of an artery
What is stroke volume?
The volume of blood pumped out by the heart ventricles in each contraction
What is cardiac output?
The volume of blood pumped out by the heart ventricles per minute
What lifestyle choices can lead to a lower chance of heart disease/stroke?
- Exercising regularly
- No smoking
- No alcohol
- No drugs
- Good sleep
- Diet
What is a stroke?
The loss of blood to the brain
How does physical activity reduce the likelihood of a stroke?
Keeping healthy through exercise increases the blood flow to the brain, preventing the brain from being starved of oxygen
What is cholesterol?
High cholesterol restricts the amount of blood flow through the vessels
How does physical activity affect the likelihood of high cholesterol?
Increases the amount of high-density lipoproteins, and decreases the amount of low-density lipoproteins, which prevents a build up of deposits in blood vessels
What is high blood pressure?
Blood pumping through blood vessels with more force than normal
What is heart disease?
A type of disease that affects the heart
How does physical activity affect the likelihood of heart disease?
Exercise keeps cardiac muscles strong and healthy, including the blood vessels, which remains flexible, allowing blood to pass through easily
What are 3 sports that require good cardiovascular fitness?
- Rowing
- Cycling
- Long distance running
How to calculate cardiac output?
Cardiac output = Heart rate x Stroke volume
What is maximal intensity?
The higher intensity of exercise, one rep max
What is sub-maximal intensity?
Repeated exercise but at a lower intensity
What is sub-maximal intensity?
Repeated exercise but at a lower intensity
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
Part of the ANS and can activate a decrease in heart rate
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
Part of the ANS and can activate an increase in heart rate
What is vascular shunting?
The redistribution of blood flow around the body
What is myogenic?
The heart’s ability to create its own contractions
What are chemoreceptors?
Receptors responsible for detecting a change in CO2/lactic acid/blood acidity
What are baroreceptors?
Receptors responsible for detecting a change in blood pressure
What are proprioceptors?
Receptors responsible for detecting the change in muscle movement
What is anticipatory rise?
This is an increase in heart rate that occurs just before taking part in physical activity
What is vasodilation?
The widening of blood vessels to increase the flow of blood into the capillaries
What is vasoconstriction?
The narrowing of blood vessels to reduce the flow of blood into the capillaries
What is the medulla oblongata?
The most important part of the brain that regulates processes that keep us alive e.g. breathing and heart rate
What is adrenaline?
A stress hormone that is released by sympathetic nerves and cardiac nerves during exercise which causes an increase in heart rate
What is the sinoatrial node (SAN or SA node)?
A small mass of cardiac muscle found in the wall of the right atrium that generates the heart beat (more commonly called the pacemaker)
What is the atrioventricular node (AVN or AV node)?
A node that relays the impulse between the upper and lower sections of the heart