Cardiovascular System

1. Diffusion Rate : The rate of which gases move from an area of high concentration to one of low concentration

1.1. Diffusion Rate can increase because of an increase in number of capillaries, capillaries becoming bigger, increase in haemoglobin concentration

2. Cardiac Hypertrophy and Cardiac Output

2.1. Top athletes have a thicker left ventricle wall which allows the heart to pump harder (Cardiac Hypertrophy)

2.2. Stroke Volume increases due to Cardiac hypertrophy. Stroke volume is the amount of blood pumped out in the heart in one beat. (Bradycardia)

2.3. Resting Heart Rate increases because of cardiac hypertrophy

3. Cardiovascular System is made up of the Heart, Blood and Blood Vessels

4. Heart Rate : The number of times the heart beats in one minute

4.1. The ideal heart rate is between 60-80 bpm

5. Blood Pressure : The amount of pressure exerted onto the blood vessel walls

5.1. Blood Pressure will increase during exercise as more blood is being pumped around the body

6. Blood Composition : The mixture of the blood and what it is made up of

6.1. Blood haematocrit is reduced and this leads to lower viscosity and enables the blood to flow more easily

7. Aerobic training will increase the amount of haemoglobin in the blood due to an increased number of red blood cells

7.1. Aerobic training will increase plasma

8. Sinoatrial node - a small mass of specialized cardiac muscle fibers in the wall of the right atrium of the heart which originates the regular electrical impulses that stimulate the heartbeat

9. Sinoatrial Node