Download exploring cardiovascular physiology activity

Physiology 2
Name
Exploring Cardiovascular Physiology
Background
The human organism responds very quickly to the stress or physiological demands of exercise. This
demand for increased work is largely met by the muscular system, where skeletal muscle cells convert the
chemical energy of food – specifically glucose – into the kinetic energy of muscular contractions (and some
additional heat energy). This conversion process, known as cellular respiration, occurs most efficiently when
there is sufficient oxygen to run the aerobic pathway. The necessary oxygen is delivered by the cardiovascular
system. With increased exercise several adaptive changes occur within the cardiovascular system increasing
the delivery of oxygen to actively respiring muscle cells. These include: increased respiration rate, increased
heart rate, increased blood flow to muscular tissue, decreased blood flow to non-muscular tissue, increased
blood pressure and increased body temperature.
One risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease is lack of exercise. People who exercise regularly
develop changes in the cardiovascular system which meet the increased work demands more quickly and
efficiently than sedentary people. There are numerous testing methods to evaluate these adaptations, ranging
from the very complex to the very simple.
Heart rate recovery is a measurement of how much the heart rate falls during the first minute after peak
exercise, and how that value compares to the heart rate at rest. The healthier a heart is, the quicker it returns to
at rest rate after exercise.
Procedure
Part 1. Initial Brainstorm
1. Refer to the class data and discussion. Conduct additional research as needed to complete the chart below.
Causes:
Above Average Heart
Effects:
Causes:
Normal Heart
Effects:
Causes:
Below Average Heart
Effects:
Conclusions
1.
Describe the variation in heart rate recovery in your class. Include a comparison of your values and those of your
classmates.
2.
Use the information in the tables above to explain your results (list a minimum of three possible causes).