BTEC FIRST CERTIFICATE IN SPORT

BODY IN ACTION

ASSIGNMENT 3
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

P5 – Describe the structure and function of the cardiovascular system and how it is
effected by exercise

P5: Describe the structure of the heart; this must include an appropriate diagram (see
example below) and a description of the following:
• The four chambers (atria, ventricles).
• The septum wall.
• The associated blood vessels (pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, aorta, vena
cava)
• The tricuspid and bicuspid valves.
• Semi lunar valves
• SA and AV nodes.
• The Bundle of His and Purkinje fibres.
• Pulmonary and Systemic divisions of the cardiovascular system.

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P5: Describe the structure of the blood vessels; this must include appropriate diagrams
(see example below) and a description of the following:
• Arteries (these have muscular walls)
• Veins (contain valves to prevent the backflow of blood)
• Capillaries (only one cell thick to allow diffusion of gases)

P5: Describe the components of blood as this is an important part of the structure of the
cardiovascular system. It is important that you discuss the different structure of each type
of blood cell:
• Red blood cells (include their roles : i.e. carries oxygen in the form of
haemoglobin)
• White blood cells (protection, fights infection and illness)
• Platelets (important for the clotting process)
• Plasma.

P5: Describe the function of the heart, this should include the following:
• Deliver nutrients around the body (oxygen and glucose to the working muscles)

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 • Remove waste products from the body (remove carbon dioxide and lactic acid
from the working muscles)
• Temperature regulation ( sweat when we exercise; vasodilation and
vasoconstriction of the vessels)
• Delivers hormones to specific receptor sites (adrenalin to heart muscle).
• How does the heart beat? (cardiac conduction) What is the average resting pulse?
• Describe the meaning of stroke volume and cardiac output.
• The Cardiac cycle to include systolic and diastolic phases
• Describe the heart beat and how it spreads across the cardiac muscle

P5: Describe how the cardiovascular system is affected by exercise (this should be
divided into the short and long term effects): provide a bulleted list to include aspects
such as:
• Decreased resting heart rate.
• Increased stroke volume and cardiac output.
• Increased capillary network
• Reduction in resting blood pressure (hypertension)

M4: Explain the effects of exercise on the cardiovascular system (again this should
be divided into two sections; short and long term:
The key word here is explain, so it is no good just putting, resting heart rate is reduced as
a result of long term effect of exercise. You must support each statement you make with
evidence that explains why this occurs. In this situation resting heart is reduced due to a
number of changes to the heart. Firstly the musculature of the cardiac wall, the
myocardium increases, particularly around the area of the left ventricle. In turn this
creates a more forceful contraction pumping more blood per beat than the untrained heart.
As a result stroke volume and cardiac output increase.
This is just one positive effect; to illustrate a good understanding you would need to
explain at least three.
It is easy to resource this topic on the internet; but do not copy and paste!! You have
been warned.

D3: Analyse the effects of exercise on the cardiovascular system (again this should
include short and long term effects):
To meet this assessment criteria you need to complete a little experiment, particularly to
illustrate the short term effects of exercise.
For example take three people:
1) Measure their resting heart rate (15 seconds multiply value x 4 to equal rate per
minute).
2) Take their pulse again immediately prior to the activity using the same method as
previously described. The resulting value is known as the “anticipatory rise” and
is the result of adrenalin.
3) Participant exercises for 5 minutes, for example a step test.
4) Take pulse immediately on completion of exercise and repeat every minute for the
next 5 minutes during the recovery period.

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When all results are complete you need to produce a graph and table for each participant
and then discuss their results. What happened at each stage of the experiment? Did the
same thing happen to each participant, if so why? If not what are the differences, why are
there differences?

D3: To complete this section you could do a quick study of the heart rate of people who
play sport or exercise regularly compared to those who do not exercise. Are there any
differences? If so what are they and why do they occur?

For the long term effects you need to find information on the trained versus untrained
heart, and discuss the health benefits.
You would need to mention bradycardia, cardiac hypertrophy, effects on blood pressure
(hypertension) showing a clear understanding of these terms.

Body in Sport Mr Penson CV System