Chronic physiological responses

Learning Outcomes

This week students will:

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Compare normal physiological functions of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and neuromuscular systems at rest and during exercise.
Explain acute and chronic physiological responses that occur with exercise.

Introduction

Welcome to Week Four! As a fitness professional, it is important to understand physical activity requires the body to continuously produce ATP to sustain activity. If the body is not able to generate enough ATP for energy, an anaerobic energy imbalance occurs resulting in lactate buildup and fatigue. An individual’s exercise tolerance is highly dependent on the body systems’ ability to meet these demands. As a future fitness expert or practitioner, it is imperative to be able to evaluate a person’s exercise ability prior to designing any fitness program. This week, we will be comparing normal physiological functions at rest and during exercise in the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and neuromuscular systems. We will also be explaining acute and chronic physiological responses that occur with regular exercise.

Required Resources

Required Text

Katch, V., McArdle, W., & Katch, F. (2015). Essentials of exercise physiology. (5th ed.). Retrieved from https://www.vitalsource.com/
1. Chapter 9 The Pulmonary System and Physical Activity
2. Chapter 10 The Cardiovascular System and Physical Activity
3. Chapter 11 The Neuromuscular System and Physical Activity

Multimedia

Films Media Group. (2010). The body in motion: The respiratory system (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from the Films On Demand database in the Ashford University Library.

Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

Films Media Group. (2010). The body in motion: The muscular system (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from the Films On Demand database in the Ashford University Library.

Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

Films Media Group. (2010). The body in motion: The circulatory system (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from the Films On Demand database in the Ashford University Library.

Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

How the body responds to exercise (Links to an external site.). (2009). Retrieved from

Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

Physiological responses to exercise (Links to an external site.). (2013). Retrieved from

Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

ThreeTreasuresStudio. (2010). Simple exercise physiology (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from

Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

Recommended Resources

Multimedia

Films Media Group.(2012). Lifelong Physical Activity (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from the Films On Demand database in the Ashford University Library.

Accessibility StatementHWE 340 Exercise and Physiology
Week Four Guidance
Welcome to Week 4! Last week we analyzed exercise recovery, oxygen uptake, exercise plans, and factors affecting physiologic responses during exercise. While you read the course materials this week, try to answer the following questions:
What reactions occur in the cardiovascular system when it moves from a state of rest to a state of exercise?
What reactions occur in the respiratory system when it moves from a state of rest to a state of exercise?
What reactions occur in the neuromuscular system when it moves from a state of rest to a state of exercise?
What are some acute and chronic physiological responses that occur in the body with exercise?
This week, there are two assignments to complete. In the first assignment, you will need to complete a discussion comparing the resting state and exercise state in one of the following systems: cardiovascular, respiratory, and neuromuscular systems. In addition to the discussion, you will be assessing how your body reacts to physical activity. You will have the opportunity to participate in an exercise activity and document how your own body systems react to the stress of exercise in a journal. Please read the Course Guide on how to complete this activity. Your first discussion response is due by Day 3 and the journal is to be submitted to your instructor by Day 7.
The respiratory system
What is the respiratory system responsible for doing? We all know it delivers oxygen to other parts of the body. Most importantly, we often think of our heart and lungs. If we cannot breathe in enough oxygen to meet the demands of our body, we begin to feel short of breath. If this continues for a prolonged amount of time, we may begin to hyperventilate and panic and eventually pass out. However, the functions of the pulmonary system are more detailed than just delivering oxygen to the body. It has three primary functions: 1) “supply oxygen required for metabolism, 2) eliminate carbon dioxide produced in metabolism, 3) regulate hydrogen ion concentration [H+] to maintain acid-base balance.” (Katch, McArdle, & Katch, 2011, p. 266). For the purposes of this course, we will primarily be looking at the first two functions.
First and most importantly, it is essential to know, “the body regulates the rate and depth of breathing exquisitely in response to metabolic needs,” (Katch, McArdle, & Katch, 2011, p. 287). In simplified terms, if the muscles, heart, liver, kidney, etc. need more oxygen, the lungs along with the heart will increase their output to meet the metabolic needs of the organs and systems. Normally, we do not think about breathing. It is an inherent response. Neurons in the brain activate the diaphragm and intercostal muscles to stimulate breathing. During rest, we inhale and exhale at less-than maximal tidal volumes. Normal tidal volume in an adult male is 600 mL and for adult females is 500 mL. Maximul total lung capacity in males is 6,000 mL and 4,200 mL in the adult female (Katch, McArdle, & Katch, 2011). Comparing the maximum total lung capacity in the male and female, you can see why genetically men are faster and often quicker than women in sports and other activities. Exercise training cannot increase static lung volumes. While we can improve lung efficiency and expiratory volumes, static lung volumes remain consistent.
Acute and chronic responses of the respiratory system
At rest, respiratory rate is about 12 breaths per minute for an adult with a tidal volume of about 0.5 L of air with each breath. Each minute, an adult breaths in and out about 6 L. of air. During exercise, respirations increase to about 35-45 breaths per minute. Tidal volume increases significantly to 2.0 Liters with each breath and a minute ventilation of 100 L. In well-trained athletes, the minute ventilation can reach numbers as high as 160 L/min. As you can see, the more trained a person becomes, the more efficient his or her respiratory system will also become. Other chronic adaptations of the respiratory system include increased oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and improved gas exchange (Katch, McArdle, & Katch, 2011). Next, we will discuss the cardiovascular system.
The cardiovascular system
The cardiovascular system is a closed circuit containing a main pump and tubes going to and from the systems of the body back to the heart. The cardiovascular system has two main functions: to receive deoxygenated blood from the body and to pump oxygenated blood to the body. While this seems simple enough, the cardiovascular system is crucial to our survival. The average adult heart pumps 36.8 million times a year. What is even more amazing is that most of the time, we are not aware of our heart beating. It has its own intrinsic will to beat. We do not have to consciously remind it to work.
To understand what happens to the heart at rest and during exercise, you must first understand a few terms. Heart rate is simply how many times the heart beats in one minute. Stroke volume is how much blood is pumped out of the heart with each beat. Cardiac output is the amount of blood the heart can pump out during one minute of time. Cardiac output can be determined by multiplying heart rate by stroke volume. Normal cardiac output is about 5 L of blood per minute. Most adults have a resting heart rate about 70 beats per minute (Katch, McArdle, & Katch, 2011). To compare a well-trained heart to an untrained heart, the difference between cardiac output is impressive. A well-trained heart can put out 5 L of blood each minute with a heart rate of about 50 beats per minute. The untrained heart also pumps out 5 L of blood each minute but at a heart rate of about 70 beats per minute. So what does this mean? The well-trained heart is much stronger. It can pump out more blood with each beat (stroke volume) compared to the untrained heart. The untrained heart has to work much harder to pump out the same amount of blood. The untrained heart will eventually wear out before the trained heart will. Take into account how many more times a day the untrained heart will have to beat compared to the trained heart. To understand cardiac output, watch this short video (Links to an external site.)The heart reaps a lot of benefits from regular, sustained exercise. Too many to discuss here. So let’s move on to the neuromuscular system.
The neuromuscular system
Two systems in the human body make up the nervous system. These two systems are the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS is comprised of the brain and the spinal cord while the PNS includes all of the cranial and spinal nerves radiating out through the body (Katch, McArdle, & Katch, 2011).
The nervous system and the muscular system work together to create movement. The body has about 250 million muscle fibers. Each muscle fiber is innervated by at least one neuron. One nerve may be responsible for controlling several muscle fibers in one area. A group of muscle fibers and neurons make up a motor unit. Motor units work together to create a muscular contraction. Muscular contraction follows an “all or nothing” rule. Either all of the muscle fibers contract at one time or none of them do (Katch, McArdle, & Katch, 2011). To view how muscle contraction occurs, please view the short YouTube video (Links to an external site.)
At rest, muscles receive only about 20% of the oxygen available in the body. However, when a person begins to exercise, the muscles will receive up to 80% of the oxygen to meet the demands of activity. Some of the benefits of exercise on the nervous system include releasing neurotransmitters such as endorphins, serotonin, and epinephrine. Endorphins help decrease pain and help a person feel better; serotonin helps improve sleep and mood patterns and epinephrine helps regulate heart rate (Active Lifestyle, 2014).
The muscular system receives many great benefits from regular exercise. Muscles often experience hypertrophy or muscle enlargement or growth. The actin and myosin within the muscle increase which also results in a stronger muscle contraction. Muscle tendon strength increases and articular cartilage becomes thicker. Within the muscle, mitochondria increase in number allowing the muscles to utilize oxygen more efficiently as well as excrete lactic acid and other waste products more effectively (WCC Physiology Unit, n.d.).
While exercise places immediate stress on the body, it creates wonderful long term benefits that assist in decreasing morbidity and mortality. In particular, the respiratory, cardiovascular, and neuromuscular systems gain specific benefits from regular exercise including stronger and more efficient systems. In week 5, we will look at some of the chronic adaptations that occur in the body as well as age-related changes in the cardiovascular, respiratory, and neuromuscular systems.
References
Katch, V., McArdle, W., & Katch, F. (2011). Essentials of exercise physiology. (4th ed.).
Baltimore, MD:Lippincott Williams & Williams.
Korthuis, R.J. (2012) Skeletal muscle circulation. (Links to an external site.)United States: Morgan Claypool Publishers WCC Physiology Unit. (n.d.). Muscular system. Retrieved from http://wccphysiologyunit.weebly.com/long-term-effe…
WCC Physiology Unit. (n.d.). Muscular system. (Links to an external site.) Retrieved from
http://wccphysiologyunit.weebly.com/long-term-effe…
Photos:
Thinkstock. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.thinkstockphotos.com/search/#177545642/…
Thinkstock. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.thinkstockphotos.com/search/#459951679/…
Thinkstock. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.thinkstockphotos.com/search/#510444251/…
Thinkstock. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.thinkstockphotos.com/search/#186936989%…
Videos:
Biology. (n.d.). Muscle contraction process. (Links to an external site.) Retrieved from
The physiology of cardiac output. (Links to an external site.) (n.d.). retrieved from
Week 4 – Discussion

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Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses. Refer to the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric under the Settings icon above for guidance on how your discussion will be evaluated.

Resting and Exercise State of the Respiratory, Cardiovascular, and Neuromuscular Systems [CLOs: 1, 2, 5]

Prior to starting this discussion, review the required resources. Since you are the fitness expert, imagine your friend Megan, a 27-year-old adult female, has come to you for advice and information. She has never exercised regularly before, but as she gets older, she wants to take charge of her health and begin a regular exercise program. She has decided to start jogging three days a week and wants to prepare to participate in her first 5K race in three months. She is interested in knowing how her respiratory, cardiovascular, and neuromuscular systems will react at rest and during exercise. Choose one of these systems to explain to your friend Megan, and compare its functioning at the resting and exercise state. In your response, address the following:

Identify the system you chose

Explain the major organs that make up this system

Compare how this system functions at rest to how it functions during exercise. Parameters to consider:

Respiratory System:

Tidal Volume

Minute ventilation

Depth and rate of ventilations

Gas exchange in the tissues

Ventilation limits

Cardiovascular System:

Heart rate

Stroke volume

Cardiac output

Blood pressure

VO2 Max

Neuromuscular System:

Chemical and mechanical action of the muscles

Oxygen uptake

Removal of waste products

Motor unit recruitment

Force of contraction

Explain two chronic adaptations in the system you chose that occurs with exercise.

Use the text and one additional scholarly source to support your research and findings. All sources must be referenced and cited according to APA guidelines as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length and be submitted by Day 3 to the discussion forum.

Guided Response: Due by Day 7. Read several of your classmates’ posts and respond to two students who have chosen a different system. In your response, address a limitation or dysfunction of this system that may hinder exercise performance. Each peer response should be at least 100 words in length and include one additional scholarly resource.