Responses to exercise

Short Term REsponses (immediate effects)

Muscular system - short-term effects of exercise

  • Increase muscle temperature
  • Increase demand for o2
  • Increase production of co2
  • Increase lactic acid production
  • Muscle fatigue

Cardiovascular system - short-term effects of exercise

    • Increased heart rate (beats per minute)
    • Increased blood pressure (systolic & diastolic)
    • Increased stroke volume (amount of blood leaving heart per beat)
    • Increased blood temperature


Respiratory system - short-term effects of exercise

  • Increased frequency of tidal volume
  • Increased depth of breathing

Long Term adaptations

Skeletal system - Long-term adaptations

  • Increased bone density
  • Reduced chance of osteoporosis
  • Better posture
  • Reduced chance of fractures
  • Stronger ligaments and tendons

Bone density can be improved through a balanced diet containing calcium & vitamin D and through weight-bearing activities such as running, walking and aerobics.

Muscular system - Long-term adaptations

    • Increased strength of muscles
    • Increased muscle hypertrophy (increased size of muscles)
    • Increased myoglobin stores
    • Tendons and ligaments also get stronger

Cardiovascular system - Long-term adaptations

    • Decreased resting heart rate
    • Increased cardiac output (amount of blood pumped out of the heart per minute)
    • Faster recovery rate
    • Reduced blood pressure
    • Hypertrophy of the myocardium (increased size and strength of heart)
    • Healthy veins and arteries
    • More Capillaries (capillarisation)

Respiratory system - Long-term adaptations

  • Elasticity of lungs
  • Capillary density around alveoli
  • Hypertrophy of the respiratory muscles and improved fatigue resistance – the intercostals, diaphragm, sternocleidomastoid, scalenes and rectus abdominus can all adapt to the training.

Task:

  • Have a go at this exam question (originally 6 marks)
  • Then check the mark scheme at the bottom of this page.

Mark scheme from the exam question above