CHAPTER

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Anatomy and Physiology

Responses to Exercise
Mark A. Williams

Chapter Outline
Cardiovascular anatomy and physiology Respiratory anatomy and physiology Cardiovascular and respiratory responses to acute exercise Cardiovascular and respiratory responses to aerobic and resistance exercise training External influences on cardiorespiratory response

Human Heart Structure and Blood Flow

Electrical Conduction System of the Heart

Transmission of Cardiac Impulse Through the Heart

Normal Electrocardiogram

Arterial and Venous Components of the Circulatory System

The cardiovascular system transports

nutrients and removes waste products while helping to maintain the environment for all the bodys functions. The blood transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues for use in cellular

metabolism; blood also transports carbon

dioxidethe most abundant by-product of metabolismfrom the tissues to the lungs,

where it is removed from the body.

Gross Anatomy of the Human Respiratory System

Contraction and Expansion of the Thoracic Cage

The primary function of the

respiratory system is the basic exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

The Brains Respiratory Center

Blood Pressures in Different Portions of the Circulatory System

Acute aerobic exercise results in increased

cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate,

oxygen uptake, systolic blood pressure, and

blood flow to active muscles and a decrease in diastolic blood pressure. Resistance exercise with low intensity and high volume generally results in similar responses, some to a lesser degree.

Acute bouts of high-intensity, low-volume

resistance exercise result in increased heart rate and increased diastolic and systolic blood pressure but no change in oxygen uptake, no

change or a slight increase in cardiac output,

and no change or a slight decrease in stroke volume.

Distribution of Tidal Volume in a Healthy Subject at Rest

During aerobic exercise, large amounts of

oxygen diffuse from the capillaries into the

tissues, increased levels of carbon dioxide move from the blood into the alveoli, and minute

ventilation increases to maintain appropriate

alveolar concentrations of these gases.

Pressure Gradients for Gas Transfer in the Body at Rest

Aerobic exercise training results in

increased maximal cardiac output and maximal

oxygen uptake, slower resting heart rate,

increased capillarization, improved ventilation efficiency, increased oxygen extraction, and OBLA occurring at a higher percentage of aerobic capacity.

Resistance training is not effective in

improving maximal oxygen uptake. Training with

high intensity and low volume results in no

change or a decrease in capillary density, no known change in ventilation, no improvement in oxygen extraction, and very high blood lactate concentrations. Conversely, lowintensity, high-volume training may increase capillarization and improve oxygen extraction.