Effects of Exercise on the Homeostatic Mechanisms that Regulate the Cardiovascular and

Respiratory Systems

Introduction

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regular physical exercise is one of
the most important things that individuals can do for their health ("Physical Activity and Health.").
When an individual begins to exercise, their body must compensate for certain changes in order to
maintain homeostasis. Specifically, the medulla, which is the area of the brain at the top of the
spinal cord, uses various receptors to receive inputs from the body regarding these changes. As
individuals initiate physical activity, stretch receptors in muscles, joints, and tendons detect this
increase in activity, and signal the respiratory center of the medulla to increase the depth and/or rate
of respiration. In addition, heart rate increases to provide oxygenated blood to the muscles and also
to increase the removal of carbon dioxide from the blood. Blood pressure may also rise as a result of
this increase in heart rate when you begin to exercise. To compensate for this increase in blood
pressure, vasodilation is stimulated in the blood vessels by the vasomotor center. Body temperature
also rises, but vasodilation of the blood vessels allow blood to pass closer to the surface of the skin
and be released from the body as excess heat. Overall, these changes reflect the bodys inherent
ability to maintain stable conditions through negative feedback loops (Exercise Physiology, 2013).
This experiment is important because physical activity has numerous health benefits,
including reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, reducing the risk of some cancers,
strengthening the bones and muscles, and improving mental health and mood (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention). Also, the bodys response to changes in temperature, oxygen
concentration, and carbon dioxide concentration reflect the bodys inherent ability to maintain
homeostasis through negative feedback loops. The information obtained from this experiment
would be useful to athletes and athletic trainers because it could help them design an exercise
routine that is the most beneficial in terms of health and performance. Also, this information could
serve as a control for individuals who are studying the effects of asthma or other respiratory
conditions on physical activity. Finally, biologists would want to know the information obtained
from this experiment because the data could give further insight into the inner workings of the
human body and how homeostasis is regulated during times of physical activity. One hypothesis is
that the heart rate of the subject will rapidly increase during the exercise period and that it will then
steadily decrease during the recovery period. Also, it is hypothesized that carbon dioxide clearance
will increase during the exercise period, because more carbon dioxide will be produced by the body
during physical activity, and that carbon dioxide clearance will decrease during the recovery period.
Another hypothesis is that oxygen consumption will increase during the exercise period because
more oxygen needs to travel to the tissues of the body and the lungs, but that oxygen consumption
will decrease during the recovery period as the body returns to homeostasis. In addition, it is
hypothesized that body temperature will increase during the exercise period as the body exerts more
energy, and that body temperature will decrease as the exercise ceases and the body returns to its
resting state during the recovery period. Furthermore, an additional hypothesis is that hemoglobin
saturation will decrease during the exercise period because hemoglobin will need to transport more
oxygen to the tissues, and also that hemoglobin saturation will increase as the body recovers during
the recovery period. Finally, it is hypothesized that the mean arterial pressure will increase during
the exercise period because the organs will require more oxygen from the blood to function
effectively, and that mean arterial pressure will decrease during the recovery period.
Methods

Two males participated in this experiment and were instructed to sit for a rest or control
period, then run on a treadmill for an exercise period, and finally walk and sit for a recovery period.
Before the experiment began, the subjects filled out a data sheet in order to provide information
regarding their age, height, weight, gender, and whether or not they smoked. The resting heart rate
for each subject was then obtained in order to calculate their exercise heart rate. It was essential that
the exercise heart rate was determined for each subject because this value was used to decide when
to stop the experiment and also for safety purposes (Exercise Physiology, 2013).
During this experiment, various instruments were used to collect the different types of data. A
heart rate monitor was used to measure the subjects heart rate. Also, spirometry was used to
determine how much air was being exhaled with each breath. A capnometer was used to measure
the exhaled tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO
2
) concentration and the respiratory rate, and an oxygen
analyzer was used to measure the oxygen concentration of the exhaled air. In addition, a skin
thermometer was used to collect the subjects temperature; a pulse oximeter was used to measure
the amount of oxygen in the subjects blood as well as their heart rate; and finally, a
sphygmomanometer was used to measure the subjects blood pressure (Exercise Physiology, 2013).
Measurements were taken on the subject during rest, an exercise period, and a recovery period.
Rest data points were taken on each of the subjects when the subject first sat down on a stool, and
then again after they had been sitting for three minutes. The resting data points served as the control
data since these measurements were compared to the data collected on the subject during the
exercise period and the recovery period. After the rest period, the subject began to run on the
treadmill, and exercise data points were collected. This phase was the exercise phase. The length of
this phase of the experiment depended on when the subject reached their exercise heart rate. For the
two subjects in this experiment, this was fifteen minutes. When the subject started to run, the speed
was 5 mph and the incline was zero. Every three minutes, the incline was adjusted. At the same
time, exercise measurements were taken. After the exercise period, the subject walked on the
treadmill for three minutes, and then the treadmill was stopped and recovery data points were
collected on the subject. The subject then sat for three minutes before the last data points were
collected. This was the recovery period (Exercise Physiology, 2013).
Throughout the duration of the experiment, data was collected every three minutes, however, not
all data was collected in every phase of the experiment. The reason for this was because it was
difficult to obtain accurate readings for some of the instruments while the subject was running. The
heart rate monitor, spirometry, capnometer, and oxygen analyzer were used to collect data on the
subject at each three minute time interval during the rest, exercise, and recovery periods of the
experiment. In contrast, the skin thermometer, pulse oximeter, and sphygmomanometer were only
used to collect data on the subject during the rest period, directly after the exercise period, and
during the recovery period. At the end of the experiment, the following calculations were
performed. Carbon dioxide clearance was calculated from the capnometer data by using the
equation: (%CO
2
of exhaled air) X tidal volume (l/brth) X resp. rate (brths/min) = CO
2
clearance (l
CO
2
/min). Oxygen consumption was calculated from the oxygen analyzer data using the equation:
(20.9% - %O
2
of exhaled air) X tidal volume (l/brth) X resp. rate (brths/min) = O
2
consumption (1
O
2
/min). Lastly, mean arterial pressure was calculated from the sphygmomanometer data using the
equation: (diastolic pressure) + 1/3(systolic pressure diastolic pressure) (Exercise Physiology,
2013).
Results
The following section includes graphs created using the data collected as described by the
methods section. Figure 1 summarizes the changes in heart rate for each of the two subjects.





Figure 1: Effects of exercise on heart rate

Heart rate increased significantly at the start of the exercise period, continued to increase slightly
throughout the exercise period, and then steadily decreased during the recovery period for both
subjects.

Figure 2 summarizes the changes in carbon dioxide clearance for each of the two subjects.
Figure 2: Effects of exercise on carbon dioxide clearance

Carbon dioxide clearance increased at the start of the exercise period and peaked at the end of the
exercise period for both subjects. Carbon dioxide clearance dramatically decreased during the
recovery period for both subjects.

Figure 3 summarizes the changes in oxygen consumption for each of the two subjects.



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Subject 1
Subject 2
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Subject 1
Subject 2
Figure 3. Effects of exercise on oxygen consumption

Oxygen consumption significantly increased at the start of the exercise period, was relatively
constant throughout the exercise period, and peaked at the end of the exercise period for both
subjects. Oxygen consumption drastically decreased during the recovery period for both subjects

Figure 4 summarizes the changes in temperature for each of the two subjects.
Figure 4. Effects of exercise on temperature

Subject 1s temperature remained the same throughout the entire experiment. Subject 2s
temperature noticeably increased during the exercise period, and then decreased during the recovery
period.

Figure 5 summarizes the changes in hemoglobin saturation for each of the two subjects.



0
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l

O
2
/
m
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Time (minutes)
Changes in Oxygen Consumption
Subject 1
Subject 2
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Rest 0 Rest 3 Exercise Recovery 3 Recovery 6
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Time (minutes)
Temperature
Subject 1
Subject 2
Figure 5. Effects of exercise on hemoglobin saturation

A clear trend was not revealed by the data collected. Subject 1s hemoglobin saturation noticeably
increased during the resting period, steadily declined during the exercise period, and remained
constant during the recovery period. Subject 2s hemoglobin saturation remained constant during
the resting period, significantly decreased at the start of the exercise period, and then increased and
remained constant during the recovery period.

Figure 6 summarizes the changes in mean arterial pressure for each of the two subjects.

Figure 6. Effects of exercise on mean arterial pressure

Mean arterial pressure remained relatively constant during the resting period and decreased during
the exercise period for both subjects; however, it varied between the two subjects during the
recovery period. Subject 1s mean arterial pressure slightly decreased and then increased during the
recovery period, and Subject 2s mean arterial pressure slightly increased and then decreased during
the recovery period.
Discussion
It was hypothesized that heart rate would rapidly increase during the exercise period and that it
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Rest 0 Rest 3 Exercise Recovery 3 Recovery 6
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Time (minutes)
Hemoglobin Saturation
Subject 1
Subject 2
0
20
40
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120
Rest 0 Rest 3 Exercise Recovery 3 Recovery 6
m
m

H
g

Time (minutes)
Mean Arterial Pressure
Subject 1
Subject 2
would then steadily decrease during the recovery period, which was supported by the data, as seen
in Figure 1. In regards to changes in carbon dioxide clearance, it was hypothesized that carbon
dioxide clearance would increase during the exercise period and decrease during the recovery
period, which was also supported by the data, as seen in Figure 2. In addition, it was hypothesized
that oxygen consumption would increase during the exercise period and decrease during the
recovery period. This was supported by the data, as seen in Figure 3.
Furthermore, it was hypothesized that body temperature would increase during the exercise
period and decrease during the recovery period, which was supported by the data collected for
Subject 2, but not for Subject 1. Figure 4 reveals that Subject 2s temperature noticeably increased
during the exercise period and decreased during the recovery period; however, Subject 1s
temperature remained constant throughout the entire experiment. Also, with regards to hemoglobin
saturation, it was hypothesized that hemoglobin saturation would decrease during the exercise
period and increase during the recovery period, which was partially supported by the data. As seen
in Figure 5, Subject 2s hemoglobin saturation did indeed decrease during the exercise period and
increase during the recovery period, and Subject 1s hemoglobin saturation also decreased during
the exercise period. However, Subject 1s hemoglobin saturation remained constant during the
recovery period. Finally, it was hypothesized that mean arterial pressure would increase during the
exercise period and decrease during the recovery period, which was not supported by the data. As
seen in Figure 6, mean arterial pressure decreased during the exercise period for both Subject 1 and
Subject 2.
The data strongly supported the hypotheses previously stated regarding heart rate, carbon dioxide
clearance, and oxygen consumption. However, the data weakly supported the previously stated
hypotheses with regards to temperature and hemoglobin saturation, and did not support the
hypothesis regarding mean arterial pressure. The data weakly supported the previously stated
hypotheses with regards to temperature and hemoglobin saturation because the hypotheses were
only supported by the measurements from one of the two subjects. One reason the support is weak
may be due to the fact that the sample size of this experiment was extremely limited and may not
have revealed the most common trends. Also, as previously stated, the data did not support the
hypothesis with regards to mean arterial pressure. Again, these results may be due to the fact that
only two male subjects were included in the experiment. If the experiment is repeated, it should
include a larger subject pool as well as female subjects.
The results of this experiment are what would be expected when considering the homeostatic
mechanisms that regulate the cardiovascular and respiratory systems during exercise. The reason
that heart rate increased significantly at the start of the exercise period and slowly decreased during
the recovery period for both subjects was because stretch receptors in the muscles, joints, and
tendons sensed an increase in physical activity and stimulated the cardiac control centers in the
medulla. As a result, these cardiac control centers caused the heart rate to increase in order to
provide oxygenated blood to muscles, and also to increase the removal of carbon dioxide from the
blood (Exercise Physiology, 2013). This is, therefore, also related to why the carbon dioxide
clearance for both subjects increased during exercise and then significantly declined during the
recovery period. When the subjects started exercising, their bodies produced more and more carbon
dioxide as a metabolic waste product, and this carbon dioxide then diffused into their blood. As a
result, central chemoreceptors in the medulla increased the respiratory rate during exercise in order
to remove excess carbon dioxide (Malcos). Furthermore, because the respiratory rate was caused to
increase during exercise, oxygen consumption consequently increased as more air was inhaled. This
was important because during exercise, the tissues of the body and the lungs require more oxygen.
In addition, temperature increased during the exercise period of this experiment because, as the
subjects exercised, they were transforming nutrients and oxygen in their body into energy. As the
muscles produced this energy, some of the energy was lost to the blood as heat. The body
maintained homeostasis by vasodilating the blood vessels, which allowed excess heat to be lost by
passing blood closer to the surface of the skin (Exercise Physiology, 2013). In addition, with
regards to hemoglobin saturation, hemoglobin saturation decreased during the exercise period in
this experiment because hemoglobin has a decreased affinity for oxygen when oxygen is most
needed by the tissues of the body. During physical activity, it is easier for hemoglobin to release the
oxygen bound to it than for it to bind to oxygen (OxygenHemoglobin Dissociation Curve).
Lastly, mean arterial pressure varied between the two subjects of this experiment, but the reason
that it may have decreased in both subjects during the exercise period is because mean arterial
pressure refers to the pressure at organ level. This may be reduced during exercise due to an
increase in blood flow throughout the body.
Some obvious sources of error in this experiment are that the sample size was extremely limited
and may have consequently masked important trends in the data. Overall, the lab went smoothly and
was successful in demonstrating the effects of exercise on the homeostatic mechanisms that regulate
the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. This specific data could effectively be used by
biologists to gain further insight regarding the internal mechanisms and negative feedback loops
that allow the body to maintain homeostasis while dealing with the stress created by strenuous
physical activity.
References

Exercise Physiology, Physiology Laboratory Handout Bio 142 Spring 2013.
Malcos, Jennelle. "Respiratory System, Part 3." Biology 141 Physiology Lecture. Penn State
University. 100 Thomas, University Park. 15 Mar 2013. Lecture.

"OxygenHemoglobin Dissociation Curve." Wikipedia. 2013.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygenhaemoglobin_dissociation_curve>.
"Physical Activity and Health." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Feb 2011. Web. 4 Apr 2013.
<http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/health/index.html>.