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GCSE Physical Education
The Cardiovascular System During
Exercise
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson pupils should:

The immediate and short-term effects of
participation in exercise and physical
activity including:
- Increased heart rate
- Systolic/diastolic blood pressure
- Increased blood pressure
The Cardiovascular System
The Cardiovascular System

The cardiovascular system consists of the heart,
blood and the blood vessels

The heart is a muscular pump, which pushes
blood throughout the many blood vessels in the
body

Blood being pushed around has 2 main functions:
- to supply the body with oxygen & nutrients
- to remove waste products e.g. carbon dioxide

Blood vessels run throughout the body, allowing
blood to travel everywhere
Effects During Exercise
Exercise has a number of immediate effects on the
cardiovascular system, what are they?
Increased Heart Rate
Increased Heart Rate

Heart rate is the number of times the heart
beats per minute

Heart rate can vary considerably from person
to person, however the normal resting heart
rate is between 60-80 beats per minute

Exercise makes the body work harder. As a
result, the muscles require more oxygen and
more nutrients, such as glycogen, to function
properly
Increased Heart Rate
 Oxygen and nutrients are carried to the
muscles by the blood. The heart has to
work faster to pump the blood around
the body, therefore the heart rate
increases

To bring about a change in heart rate the
body releases adrenaline, which is the
main cause of changes in heart rate and
blood pressure. Adrenaline is a hormone
Blood Pressure
Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force exerted by
circulating blood on the wall of the
blood vessels. The heart makes two
beating sounds

Systole - made by the lower chambers
contracting and pushing blood at high
pressure into the arteries

Diastole - made by the upper chambers
contracting
Increased Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force exerted by
blood on the walls of the arteries

Blood pressure increases during
exercise because more blood is needed
to be pumped around the body,
increasing pressure on the blood vessels

A blood pressure metre is used to
measure systolic and diastolic blood
pressure
Systolic & Diastolic Pressure
Systolic & Diastolic Pressure

Systolic pressure - the maximum pressure in
the arteries when the heart contracts (beats)
and pushes blood out through the aorta into
the body

Diastolic pressure - the pressure of the
blood during the relaxation phase between
heart beats (when heart is at rest)

Pulse pressure - the difference between
systolic and diastolic pressures
Immediate Effects of Exercise
Immediate Effects of Exercise
 Breathing becomes deeper/faster - This is so more
oxygen can be supplied to the lungs

Body temperature increases - The working muscles
generate heat causing the body’s temperature to rise.
The body regulates temperature by heat radiating from
the skin and through sweating

Sweating starts & body requires fluids - Fluid is needed
to cool the body down and to prevent dehydration

Muscles begin to ache - Muscles need energy and
oxygen to work. Glucose is used as the energy source,
but lactic acid, a waste product, is also produced
Lactic Acid
Lactic Acid

Lactic acid is a poison. It builds up slowly during
exercise and during higher intensity work it
builds up in muscles more quickly

The reason for this build up could be poor
training or a result of a depletion to the
glycogen stores in the muscles as a result of a
massive muscular effort

After a while lactic acid will make muscles ache

It will eventually cause cramp and stop muscles
working. The athlete must rest while the blood
brings fresh supplies of oxygen to the muscles
Learning Objectives (Revisited)
By the end of this lesson pupils should:

The immediate and short-term effects of
participation in exercise and physical
activity including:
- Increased heart rate
- Systolic/diastolic blood pressure
- Increased blood pressure
Thank you
Any questions, please do not hesitate
to ask