Cardiovascular System The network responsible for connecting tissues of the body to each other. System includes the Heart, a vast network of blood vessels, and blood. The heart works as a pump for the cardiovascular system, the blood vessels connect the heart to the body’s organ systems, and blood carries materials such as free fatty acids, oxygen, and lactic acid through the system.

Cardiovascular System The Cardiovascular System is closed – meaning our blood does not enter/exit the system. 4.7 – 5.7 L of blood in our body.

Cardiovascular System System that is very important for all athletes, especially endurance athletes such as marathon runners, triathletes, cross country skiers and biathletes. Simon Whitfield, winning the Olympic Gold Medal for the Triathlon. Australia, 2000.

Cardiovascular and Respiratory System Function of System: to provide an optimal environment for cellular function. (right) picture of the cardiovascular and respiratory system

Cardiovascular and Respiratory System

Cardiovascular System Primary Roles of the CV System: To transport nutrients and remove waste products. To maintain the environment for all the body’s functions: regulate acid-base system; body temperature and a variety of other physiological functions.

Cardiovascular System The Heart: Muscular organ that in reality is two interconnected but separate pumps; right side of the heart pumps blood through the lungs; the left side pumps blood through the rest of the body. Each pump has two chambers an atrium and a ventricle (4 chambers total). The right and left atria primarily act as blood storage areas, delivering blood into the right and left ventricles. The right and left ventricles supply blood to the lungs and rest of the body.

Cardiovascular System The Heart: Composed of cardiac muscle cells – contains Myosin and Actin filaments, similar to skeletal muscle cells. Highly fatigue resistant. Each contraction and relaxation by the heart muscle represents a heart beat.

Cardiovascular Sytem CV System is divided into two distinct loops: The Pulmonary Circuit and the Systemic Circuit.

Cardiovascular System The Pulmonary Circuit: Oxygen depleted blood is pumped away from the heart Returns from the lungs oxygenated

Cardiovascular System The Systemic Circuit: Transports oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body Returns oxygenated depleted blood back to the heart Is longer than the pulmonary circuit in distance as it has to transport blood to every party of the body

Cardiovascular System During exercise, the blood flow to the working skeletal muscle needs to be increased. This can be accomplished by: 1. The heart can increase the amount of blood it pumps each minute. 2. The systemic system can redirect blood by reducing blood flow to less active tissues and increasing flow to more active tissues.

Cardiovascular System Stroke Volume: The amount of blood pumped in one contraction of the heart Heart Rate: How many times the heart pumps in one minute CARDIAC OUTPUT=STOKE VOLUME X HEART RATE “The more blood pumped in each contraction (Stroke Volume), the more beats the heart has in a minute (Heart Rate) the greater the Cardiac Output.”

Cardiovascular System Blood Vessels: The circulatory system is a single closed-circuit system divided into: arteries, capillaries and veins. An arterial system that carries blood away from the heart. A venous system which returns blood to the heart. Capillaries connect arteries and veins.

Cardiovascular System Arteries: Function: rapidly transport blood pumped from the heart. Arteries have strong, muscular walls because the blood is under high pressure. Smaller branches of arteries called arterioles act as control vessels through which blood enters the capillaries. Arterioles decide how much blood goes into capillaries based on tissue need.

Cardiovascular System Veins: Function: rapidly transport low oxygenated blood to the heart. Exceptions: Pulmonary Vein Most veins have one-way flaps called venous valves that prevent blood from back flowing and pooling in the lower extremities due to the effects of gravity. Smaller branches of veins are called venules, have thinner walls than arteries. A venule allows deoxygenated blood to return from the capillary beds to the larger blood vessels, veins.

Cardiovascular System

Cardiovascular System Blood: Fluid component called Plasma, and three major cell types (red, white, platelets) Red blood cells, contain a protein called hemoglobin. Oxygen travels to tissues attached to the hemoglobin protein.

Cardiovascular System Blood Pressure Within the CV system, blood flows from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. As the heart contracts (systole), an area of high pressure is created in the ventricles and blood is directed out of the heart into the major arterial blood vessels, the pulmonary artery, and the aorta. When the heart relaxes (diastole), pressure in the ventricles drops to zero, and blood flows from the major venous blood vessels into the ventricles. The Sphygomomanometer measures blood pressure. Ideal blood pressure is 120/80 High blood pressure = Hypertension

Cardiovascular System

What is the difference between: (Veins, Venules, Arteries & Capillaries) Move blood to the heart from the rest of the body Valves prevent deoxygenated blood from travelling backwards Venules Transfer waste products including CO2 from the body to the veins for transport back to the lungs Transfer occurs at the single cell level through osmosis and diffusion

Why is the last statement important when performing cardio exercises? Arteries: Transport oxygen & energy in the blood from the heart to the body Blood is kept moving by the elastic and muscular construction of the arteries Capillaries: Transfer oxygen & energy to the body Transfer occurs at the single cell level Exercise increases the amount of capillaries at the muscular level Why is the last statement important when performing cardio exercises?

Major Constituents of Blood Blood Plasma (55%) Mostly water (95%) Contains nutrients, gases, hormones, wastes, ions & proteins Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes) Act as transport for O2 & CO2 Most of the 3 types of blood cells White Blood Cells (Leukocytes) Crucial to our defense against disease & infection Blood Platelet Cells (Thrombocytes) Important for clotting (when wounds scab)

What Blood Type Are You? What are the different Blood Groups? Differences in human blood are due to the presence of proteins called antigens located on Red Blood Cells and antibodies located in your blood plasma Individuals have different types & combinations of these depending on what you inherited from your family If your blood has the same Antibodies as your donor’s Antigen then the transfusion will not work Blood Group: Type A You have Group A antigens on your red blood cells & B antibodies in your blood plasma Blood Group Type B You have Group B antigens on your red blood cells & A antibodies in your blood plasma

Type O: The Universal Donor Blood Group: Type O You have no Group A or B antigens on your red blood cells & both A and B antibodies in your blood plasma As a result your blood is easily accepted by the other Types of Blood The bad news is you only accept your blood type or else you A and B antibodies will react with the other types blood Antigens Blood Group Type AB You have no A or B antibodies in your plasma so you can receive blood from almost any blood type You have both A and B antigens on your Red Blood Cells so your blood is the least accepted blood by others You are known as the Universal Receiver

Blood Pressure/Heart Rate & Health What does Blood Pressure Measure? Systolic Pressure Measures the amount of pressure required to collapse an artery during the Systole Phase (When the ventricles contract to move blood out of the heart) This is the top number and is higher because the greatest pressure is created by the Pump of the ventricle trying to push blood through the body Diastolic Pressure Measures the amount of pressure required to collapse an artery during the Diastole Phase (When the Atria and Ventricles are relaxed) This is the bottom number and is lower because this is when pressure is lowest because the heart is relaxed

Blood Pressure/Heart Rate & Health What is Good Blood Pressure Measure? Diastolic Pressure 120/80 + or – 10 Systolic Pressure 110-130/70-90

Blood Pressure/Heart Rate & Health What if my Blood Pressure is High? Your Arteries are too tense (Hypertension) This can be as a result of Stress This can be a result of clogging or hardening of the arteries from a poor diet Your Heart will have to work harder to move the same amount of blood Remember your arteries are supposed to be elastic and muscular so they help your heart but when your blood pressure is high your heart has to do more work This over works your heart wearing it out sooner

Blood Pressure/Heart Rate & Health What is your blood pressure? What if my Blood Pressure is Low? Hypotension Your Arteries are not providing enough tension This means not enough blood is moved through your body (to your brain and other organs) This can result in poor performance of these vital organs You can become faint easily You will have poor circulation Always cold What is your blood pressure?

Blood Pressure/Heart Rate & Health What do I need to know about my resting heart rate? Resting Heart Rate measures the hearts efficiency (Measure of Cardiac Output at rest) The lower the Resting HR the better This means the heart has a high stroke volume and can therefore move a lot of blood without much work (Efficient) After hard Cardio Work my Heart Rate should return to resting within 5 minutes of finishing Your heart rate should rise quickly as you work hard but should also return to your resting quickly (Efficient) A great Resting HR is <60. Good is 60-80. >80 needs work What is your Resting Heart Rate?

Blood Supply to the Muscles All muscles contain vessels that branch into a fine network of tiny vessels called capillaries and venules Capillaries- supply oxygen rich blood to the muscles Venules- remove deoxygenated blood & waste The blood required by contracting muscles at times can be 100 times greater than at rest “Training increases the amount of capillaries at the muscular level”

Training Increases Capillaries Aerobic and Weight Training increase the capillary network at the muscular level Increased blood flow to the muscle brings more Oxygen, Energy & Building material to the muscle Increased blood flow away from the muscle removes more waste products from the muscle allowing for Quicker Recovery This means you will have greater Cardiac Output (Higher stroke volume)