Cardiovascular and Respiratory Responses to Exercise Training

These flashcards cover key physiological concepts related to oxygen consumption, cardiovascular and respiratory adaptations to exercise, and muscular responses to training.

What does VO2 stand for?

VO2 stands for oxygen consumption.

What is VO2 max?

VO2 max is the highest oxygen consumption achieved, usually during a graded exercise test.

Why is VO2 max important?

It is an excellent measure of overall fitness and indicates an individual’s aerobic capacity.

How is VO2 max mathematically expressed?

VO2 max = SV x HR x (a - vO2 diff).

What are the components of oxygen transport in the body?

Key components include convective O₂ transport, pulmonary ventilation, cardiac output, and hemoglobin concentration.

What is the Fick Principle?

The Fick Principle states that the amount of substrate going into an organ minus the amount coming out equals the tissue utilization rate.

What are some factors that increase VO2 max through training?

Factors include increased stroke volume, cardiac output, and improved oxygen extraction by muscles.

What is the role of minute ventilation (VE) in exercise?

Minute ventilation is calculated as breathing frequency multiplied by tidal volume and increases with exercise intensity.

What is dead space in the respiratory system?

Dead space refers to areas of the respiratory system that do not participate in gas exchange, such as the trachea and bronchi.

What is the significance of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve?

It explains how the partial pressure of oxygen affects hemoglobin saturation, influencing oxygen delivery to tissues.

What is the Bohr effect?

The Bohr effect describes the enhanced oxygen offloading from hemoglobin under acidic conditions or during increased metabolic activity.

How is carbon dioxide transported in the blood?

CO2 is transported in three ways: dissolved in plasma, bound to hemoglobin, and as bicarbonate.

What are central and peripheral chemoreceptors?

Central chemoreceptors are sensitive to CO2 and pH changes in the blood, while peripheral chemoreceptors respond to changes in O2 and CO2 levels.

What is EPOC?

Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) is the increased rate of oxygen intake following strenuous activity to compensate for oxygen deficit.

What adaptations occur in the cardiovascular system with endurance training?

Adaptations include increased stroke volume, cardiac output, blood volume, and improved oxygen extraction efficiency.

What is the significance of motor units in muscular strength?

Motor units consist of a motor neuron and the muscle fibers it innervates, and their recruitment patterns influence force production.

What is muscle hypertrophy?

Hypertrophy is the increase in size of individual muscle fibers, primarily achieved through resistance training.

How do carbohydrate and fat usage change with exercise intensity?

As exercise intensity increases, the reliance on carbohydrates increases while fat oxidation decreases.

What is meant by the term 'oxygen deficit'?

Oxygen deficit refers to the difference between the total O2 consumed and the amount consumed if steady state occurred immediately.

What are the primary fuel sources utilized during exercise?

Carbohydrates and fats are the main fuel sources, with glycogen being the preferred source for high-intensity exercise.

What is the impact of a high carbohydrate diet on athletic performance?

A high carbohydrate diet can enhance performance by maximizing glycogen stores and delaying fatigue during exercise.

What happens to oxygen uptake and blood flow during exercise?

Oxygen uptake increases with exercise intensity, and blood flow is redistributed to working muscles according to metabolic demand.

What factors limit maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max)?

Limiting factors include gas exchange efficiency in the lungs, central blood flow, peripheral blood flow, and muscle metabolic capacity.

What does the Frank-Starling law state?

The Frank-Starling law states that the heart contracts more forcefully when it is filled to a greater degree during diastole.

How does resistance exercise affect the autonomic nervous system?

Resistance exercise generally decreases parasympathetic activity while increasing sympathetic activity, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure.