The Effects Of Exercise And Sports Performance On The Cardiovascular System Flashcards
Coronary arteries
These are the blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle. There are two coronary arteries, the left and the right.
Atria
These are the upper chambers of the heart. They receive blood returning to your heart from either the body or the lungs. The right atrium receives DEOXYGENATED BLOOD from the superior and inferior vena cava. The left atrium receives OXYGENATED BLOOD from the left and right pulmonary veins.
Ventricles
The pumping chambers of the heart. They have thick walls
Bicuspid (mitral) valve
One of the four valves in the heart, situated between the left atrium and left ventricle. Allows the blood to flow only in one direction
Tricuspid valve
Situated between the right atrium and the right ventricle and prevents blood from flowing backwards
Semi-lunar valves (aortic valve and pulmonary valve)
Situated between the left ventricle and the aorta and prevents flow from the aorta back into the left ventricle. The pulmonary valve is situated between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
Aorta
This is the bloods main artery. It originated in the left ventricle and carries oxygenated blood to all parts of the body except the lungs
Superior vena cava
A vein that receives deoxygenated blood from the upper body to empty into the right atrium of the heart
Inferior vena cava
A vein that receives deoxygenated blood from the lower body to empty into the right atrium of the heart.
Pulmonary vein
Carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart
Pulmonary artery
Carries deoxygenated blood from the heart back to the lungs. It is the only artery that carries deoxygenated blood.
Arteries
- Carry blood AWAY from the heart
- with the exception of the pulmonary artery they carry oxygenated blood
- thick muscular walls to carry blood at high pressure and high speeds.
Arterioles
- thinner walls than arteries
- they control blood distribution by changing their diameter
- essentially responsible for controlling blood flow to the capillaries
Capillaries
- connect arteries and veins by uniting arterioles and venules.
- smallest of all blood vessels, narrow and thin.
- pressure is higher than veins but lower than arteries
Veins
- veins facilitate VENOUS RETURN- the return of deoxygenated blood to the heart
- thinner walls than arteries and a relatively large diameter
- low pressure and slow flow in veins
Venules
- small vessels that connect the capillaries to the veins.
- the venules will take the blood from the capillaries and transport this deoxygenated blood under low pressure to the veins which, in turn, will lead back to the heart
Composition of blood (4 things blood is composed of)
- Red blood cells
- Plasma
- White blood cells
- Platelets
Function of the cardiovascular system
- Delivering oxygen and nutrients
- Removing waste products- carbon dioxide and lactate
- Thermoregulation (Vasodilation of blood vessels near the skin and Vasoconstriction of blood vessels near the skin)
- Fighting infection
- Clotting blood
Sinoatrial node (SAN)
- Located within the walls of the right atrium
- Sends an impulse from the right atrium through the walls of the atria, causing the muscular walls to contract.
- This contraction forces the blood within the atria down into the ventricles
Atrioventricular node (AVN)
- located in the centre of the heart between the atria and the ventricles
- it slows down the signal from the SAN allowing the atria to CONTRACT before the ventricles.
- therefore ventricles are relaxed and are ready to receive the blood from the atria at the top of the heart
Bundle of His and Purkinje fibres
- Bundle of His are specialist heart muscle cells that are responsible for transporting the electrical impulses from the AVN
- found in walls of the ventricles and septum
- at the end of the bundle of His are thin filaments know as purkinje fibres which allow the ventricle to contract at a paced interval.
- this contraction causes the blood within the ventricle to be pushed up and out of the heart, either to the lungs or to the working muscles
Sympathetic nervous system
Prepares the body for intense physical activity and is often referred to as the ‘fight or flight’ response
Parasympathetic nervous system
Relaxes the body and inhibits or slows many high energy functions. This is often referred to as the ‘rest and digest’ response
Effects of the sympathetic nervous system
- it will cause the heart to beat faster and your lungs to work harder allowing you to produce more energy and meet the demands of exercise
Effects of the Parasympathetic nervous system
- slow down your heart rate to its normal levels after exercise
Responses of the cardiovascular system to a single sport or exercise session
- Anicipatory increase in heart rate prior to exercise
- Increased heart rate
- Increased cardiac output
- Increased blood pressure
- Redirection of blood flow
Adaptations of the cardiovascular system due to exercise
- Cardiac hypertrophy
- Increase in resting and exercising stroke volume
- Decrease In resting heart rate
- Reduction In resting blood pressure
- Decreased heart rate recovery time
- Capillarisation of skeletal muscle and alveoli
- Increase in blood volume
Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS)
Genetic heart condition that can cause sudden death in young, apparently healthy people even though the person has no disease affecting the structure of the heart. For example Bolton wanderers footballer Fabrice Muamba suffers from it
Hyperthermia
- The prolonged increase in body temperature that occurs when the body produces or absorbs too much heat.
Hypothermia
- Where you body becomes too cold, with your core temperature dropping below 35 degrees
