Human Body Respiratory System

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The human body response of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to the demands of exercise.

1. Cardiovascular system

The acute response of the heart to exercise increases at the beginning of exercises. This can be changed by chemicals named adrenaline and noradrenaline, what are known as neurotransmitters that are found in the brain and released during the exercises. They let an impulse from one nerve cell to pass to a different nerve cell; these chemicals prepare the heart for exercise, therefore, there is a growth in beats per minute as we can see from the figures showed below. Soon as the heart rate starts to increase our body starts to stock oxygen and nutrients for our working muscles.

Running Speed (km/h) Heart Rate (bpm)

Rest 70

8 100

10 116

12 130

14 150

16 170

18 185

The figures in the table below show that soon as running speed increases our heart rate increases as well. For example, from the figures

For minute ventilation, in adults the breathing rate norms 12 breaths per minute, and tidal volume norms about 0.5L of air per breath (William D. McArdle, 2006). In case of intense exercises, soon as the breathing rate would start to increases to 35 to 45 breaths per minute, the tidal volume usually rises to 2.0L (William D. McArdle, 2006). The minute ventilation is reliant on tidal volume, the quantity of air going in and out per breath and the rate of breaths per minute (Sharon Plowman, 2007).

The oxygen that is inhaled is taken to your muscles and carbon dioxide is taken out from your muscles by your blood. The exchange of these gases with the air you breathe in appears in the lungs. Then the blood would be spread through your lungs by your cardiovascular system. Breathing rates would increase to some extent during the preparation before the train session and will come back to normal within few minutes after the