Exercise Physiology

The Ventilatory and

Cardiovascular Sytems

I. Structure of the Ventilatory System

A. Conducting Airways:
*offers a low resistance
pathway for air flow
*warms and moistens
air
*mucus and ciliated
cells filter air

II. Pulmonary Ventilation: the exchange of

air between the atmosphere and lungs.
A. Mechanics of
Breathing:
1. Inhalation:
*diaphragm contracts
and lowers
*chest cavity expands
increasing volume
and decreasing
internal air pressure

2. Exhalation:
*Diaphragm relaxes and
moves up.
*chest cavity volume
decreases and
internal air pressure
increases.
*during exercise the
intercostal and
abdominal muscles
act on the ribs to
produce greater
exhalation

III. Total Lung Capacity: (TLC) maximum

volume of lungs after maximum inhalation
(vital capacity + residual vol.).
A. Tidal Vol.: (TV)
volume inspired or
expired per breath.
B. Inspiratory Reserve
Vol.: max. inspiration
at the end of tidal
inspiration

C. Expiratory Reserve Vol.: max. expiration

at the end of tidal expiration.
D. Residual Vol.: (RV)
volume in lungs after
maximum expiration.

IV. CO2 transport in the blood:

A. Dissolved directly in
plasma
B. Bound to
hemoglobin
(carbamino
compunds)
C. As bicarbonate

D. Whats the role of CO2 in the control of

pulmonary ventilation during exercise?
*dissociation of carbonic
acid increases H+ in
blood lowering pH.
*the medulla senses the
low pH and sends
signals to the
diaphragm and
intercostal muscles.

V.Oxygen Transport in the Blood:

A. Hemoglobin: (Hb)
iron containing
pigment that binds
with oxygen to form
oxyhemoglobin.
Hb + 4 O2

Hb4O8

VI. Gas Exchange in the lungs:

A. Alveoli: thin
membrane sacs
at the end of the
bronchioles.
*serve as the site of
gas exchange
by diffusion.

VII. Blood: transport vehicle for nutrients,

hormones, waste products and electrolytes.
1. Blood Composition:
A. Cellular:
i. erythrocytes: (RBCs)
Contain hemoglobin
that binds to oxygen
for transport to
tissues.

ii. Leukocytes: (WBCs) defend the body

against disease.
*produce antibodies
*destroy bacteria and
viruses
*produce marker
proteins

iii. Platelets: (thrombocytes) play a role in

the clotting of blood.

B. Liquid Component:
i. Plasma: 60% total
volume of blood.
90% water and 10%
solutes
Metabolites and
wastes (gases,
hormones, vitamins)
Salts (ions)
Plasma proteins

VII. Anatomy of the Heart

A. Heart Rate: is regulated by both intrinsic

and extrinsic factors.
i. Intrinsic regulation:
a. sinoatrial (S-A)
node: a mass of
specialized cardiac
muscle located on
the exterior wall of
the right atrium.
Initiates the
electrical impulse.

b. Atrioventricular (A-V) node: receives impulse

from the S-A node and delays it about .10 sec. for
atrial contraction.
c. A-V Bundle of His:
speeds the impulse
over the ventricles to
the Purkinje system
causing simultaneous
contraction of the
ventricles.

ii. Extrinsic Regulation: the autonomic nervous

system can override the myocardial rhythm.
a. Sympathetic
Influence:
epinephrine is
released when
stimulated causing
heart rate to
increase.
b. Parasympathetic Inf:
releases
acetylcholine to slow
heart rate.

B. Circulation of Blood:
i. Pulmonary
Circulation:
deoxygenated blood
is pumped from the
right side of the heart
through the
pulmonary arteries to
the lungs.
Oxygenated blood is
returned by the
pulmonary veins.

ii. Systemic Circulation: oxygen rich blood is

pumped from the left side of the heart through the
aorta to the rest of the body.

iii. Cardiac Output: the volume of blood pumped by

the heart in one minute. Equal to stroke vol. x
heart rate.
a. Stroke Vol.: the
volume of blood
pumped by one
ventricle with each
beat. Approx. 70 ml.
Stroke vol.=EDV-ESV

iv. Cardiovascular Drift: an increase in heart rate

during steady exercise due to a reduction in stroke
volume.
Caused by:
*exercising in heat
*rise in core temp.
*decrease in plasma
vol.

C. Blood Pressure: the pressure exerted on

the walls of the arterial system.
i.

Systole: highest
pressure generated
by the left
ventricular
contraction. Approx.
120 mm Hg at rest.
ii. Diastole: the
pressure generated
when the heart
relaxes. Approx 7080 mm Hg.

iii. Blood Pressure Response to Exercise:

a. Dynamic Exercise:
systolic pressure
increases with
intensity with
relatively little
change in diastolic
pressure.
Ex. Walking, jogging,
swimming, cycling.

b. Static Exercise: heavy resistance training

increases blood pressure due to muscular
contractions compressing peripheral arteries.
Ex. Weightlifting,
isometrics

iv. Distribution of Blood

Rest (cardiac output
5,000 ml)
*liver = 1350 ml
*kidneys = 1100 ml
*muscle = 1000 ml
*brain = 700 ml
*skin = 300 ml
*heart = 200 ml

Exercise (cardiac output

25,000 ml)
*liver = 500 ml
*kidneys = 250 ml
*muscle = 21,000 ml
*brain = 900 ml
*skin = 600 ml
*heart = 1000 ml

v. Cardiovascular Adaptations to Exercise:

a. Lower resting heart
rate.
b. Increased left
ventricular volume.
c. Increased stroke vol.
and cardiac output.
d. Capillarization:
increase in capillary
surface area in
muscles.
e. Greater
arteriovenous
oxygen diff. (a-vO2)

D. Maximal Oxygen Consumption: (VO2) refers to

the maximum amt. of O2 that an individual can
utilize during maximal training.
*measured as ml of O2
used in one minute
per Kg of body
weight.
(ml Kg-1 min-1)