The Hormonal Control Mechanism

1. The Hormonal Control Mechanism Hormones can also have an effect on heart rate. The realise of adrenaline during exercise is known as hormonal control.

2. Adrenalines effect on the heart • Adrenaline is a stress hormone that is released by the sympathetic nerve and cardiac nerve during exercise. • It stimulates the SA node (Pacemaker) which results in an increase in both speed and force of contraction, thereby increasing cardiac output. • This results in more blood being pumped to the working muscles so they can receive more oxygen for the energy they need. Adrenaline stimulates the SA Node

3. Key Terms – You should know

4. Stroke Volume • Stroke volume is the volume of blood pumped out by the heart ventricles in each contraction. • On average, the resting stroke volume is approximately 70ml. • Stroke volume depends on the following:

5. Stroke volume breakdown • Venous return: the volume of blood returning to the heart via the veins. • If the venous return increases, then stroke volume will also increase. (If more blood enters the heart, then more blood goes out) • The elasticity of cardiac fibres: this is concerned with the degree of stretch of cardiac tissue during the diastole phase of the cardiac cycle. • The more the cardiac fibres can stretch, the greater the force of contraction will be. • A greater force of contraction can increase the ejection fraction. This is called Starlings Law

6. Key Terms – You should know

7. Starlings Law

8. The Ejection Fraction • The Ejection Fraction can be represented in two ways The Amount of blood pumped out of the ventricle Total Amount of blood in ventricle = Ejection Fraction %

9. The Ejection Fraction Stroke Volume End diastolic volume (The volume of blood in the ventricles at rest) = Ejection Fraction

10. The Contractility of cardiac tissue (Myocardium) • The greater the contractility of the cardiac tissue, the greater the force of contraction. • This results in an increase in stroke volume. • It is also highlighted by an increase in the ejection fraction. • An average value is 60%, but it can increase by up to 85% following a period of training.

11. Heart Rate & Cardiac Output • This is the number of times the heart beats per minutes. • On average, the resting heart rate is approximately 72 beats per minute.

12. Cardiac Output • Cardiac Output is the volume of blood pumped out by the heart ventricles per minute. It is equal to stroke volume multiplied by heart rate. Cardiac Output = Stroke Volume X Heart Rate

13. Key Terms – You should know

14. Heart Rate range in response to exercise • Heart rate increases with exercise but how much it increases is dependent on the intensity of the exercise. • Heart rate will increase in direct proportion to the exercise intensity. • Higher the intensity, higher the heart rate • Until the heart reaches its maximum How to work out Maximum heart rate 220 – Athletes Age = Max HR

15. Athletes and their Heart Rate range Bradley Wiggins • A trained performer has a greater heart rate range because their resting heart rate is lower. • Their the range between their resting and their maximum heart rate is larger than the average person. Resting Heart rate: 35 BPM Maximum 182 BPM Heart Rate range 35-182 BPM

16. What happens during Exercise • The following graphs illustrate what happens to the heart during maximal exercise such as sprinting and sub-maximal exercise such as jogging INSERT GRAPH OFF PAGE 7

17. Regular aerobic training will result in more cardiac muscle • When cardiac muscle becomes bigger and stronger, this is known as cardiac hypertrophy. • This will have an important effect on stroke volume, heart rate and therefore cardiac output. • The end diastolic volume of the ventricle increase. If the ventricles can contract with ore force and thus push out more blood, the heart does not have to beat as often, so resting heart rate will decrease. (A bigger, stronger heart will enable more blood to be pumped out per beat Stroke Volume). • This can result in the resting heart rate dropping below 60BPM (average) • This is process is known as bradycardia and when this occurs, oxygen delivery to the muscles improves as there is less oxygen needed for contractions of the heart.

18. Key Terms – You should know

19. Cardiac output in response to exercise • During exercise there is a large increase in cardiac output due to an increase in heart rate & an increase in stroke volume. • Cardiac output due to an increase in heart rate and an increase in stroke volume. • Cardiac output will increase as the intensity of exercise increase until maximum intensity is reached and then it plateaus (evens out) See the graph to the right INSERT GRAPH OFF PAGE 7

20. Cardiac output in response to exercise • The Table below shows the differences in cardiac output in a trained and an untrained individual, both at rest and during exercise. (The example athletes are aged 18)

21. Stroke Volume in response to exercise • Stroke volume increase as exercise intensity increase. • However, this is only the case up to 40-60% of maximum effort. • Once a performer reaches this point (60-80%), stroke volume plateaus (shown in the graph) • This is because the increases heart rate near maximum effort results in a shorter diastolic phase. • (the ventricles don’t have as much time to fill up with blood before having to pump out again) INSERT GRAPH OFF PAGE 8