PHYSIOLOGY OF EXERCISE
The following change is noted during exercise.
| A |
Blood flow to brain increases with increase in mean systolic blood pressure. |
|
| B |
Body temperature increases. |
|
| C |
Lymphatic flow from muscle decreases. |
|
| D |
Blood flow to muscles increase after half a minute. |
The following change is noted during exercise.
| A |
Blood flow to brain increases with increase in mean systolic blood pressure. |
|
| B |
Body temperature increases. |
|
| C |
Lymphatic flow from muscle decreases. |
|
| D |
Blood flow to muscles increase after half a minute. |
Ans. is. B. Body temperature increases
Heat is produced whenever muscles contract.
This is due to 2 reasons
- The maximal efficiency for conversion of nutrient energy into muscle work, even under the best conditions, is only 20 to 25 percent.
- Almost all the energy used to contract the muscle is converted into heat.
- Overcoming viscous resistance to the movement of the muscle and joints.
- Overcoming the friction of blood flowing through the blood vessels.
In isometric exercise all are increased except :
| A |
Heart rate |
|
| B |
Cardiac output |
|
| C |
Mean arterial pressure |
|
| D |
Systemic vascular resistance |
Article – “Autonomic mechanisms in hemodynamic response to isometric exercise” given at below-mentioned website quotes –
- “The cardiovascular response to sustained isometric exercise have been studied and well defined in volunteers.
- The characteristically modest increase in heart rate and cardiac output occurs, while increases in systolic and diastolic arterial pressure are more pronounced.
- The relative increases in cardiac output and mean blood pressure are such that calculated systemic vascular resistance is unchanged.”
- The systemic cardiovascular response to exercise depends on whether the muscle contractions are primarily isometric or primarily isotonic.
CVS changes in isometric exercise :
- Heart rate rises
- Systolic and diastolic blood pressure rises sharply
- Stroke volume changes relatively little.
- Cardiac output increases
CVS changes in isotonic exercise
- Heart rate rises
- Stroke volume increases markedly
- Peripheral resistance decreases d/t vasodilation in exercising muscle
- Systolic BP rises only moderately, whereas diastolic pressure usually remains unchanged or falls.
- Cardiac output increases
| A | S3,S4 is accentuated | |
| B |
Useful in ventricular arrhythmia |
|
| C |
Increases systemic vascular resistance |
|
| D |
Diastolic murmur of Mitral stenosis becomes louder |
Isometric exercise results in transient but sigificant increase in systemic vascular resistance, arterial pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, left ventricular filling pessure and heart size. Patients wit ventricular arrhythmia or myocardial infarction should avoid this as tey can increase their intensity.
Isometric exercises can cause,
- S3,S4 is accentuated
- Diastolic murmur of Mitral stenosis becomes louder
- Diastolic murmur of aortic regurgitation,systolic murmur of mitral regurgitation and ventricular septal defect increases.
- Systolic murmur of aortic stenosis and systolic murmur of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy diminishes.
Ref: Primary Cardiology, edited by Eugene Braunwald, 2nd Edition, Page 157.
What is the effect of moderate exercise on cerebral blood flow?
| A |
Does not change |
|
| B |
Increases |
|
| C |
Decreases |
|
| D |
Initially decreases then increases |
Cerebral blood flow remains constant during moderate exercise even in the face of a small rise in systemic blood pressure, however in heavy exercise hypocapnia secondary to hyperventillatory response will cause local cerebral vasoconstriction.
During heavy exercise the cardiac output (CO) increases upto five fold while pulmonary arterial pressure rises very little. This physiological ability of the pulmonary circulation is best explained by:
| A |
Increase in the number of open capillaries |
|
| B |
Sympathetically mediated greater distensibility of pulmonary vessels |
|
| C |
Large amount of smooth muscle in pulmonary arterioles |
|
| D |
Smaller surface area of pulmonary circulation |
Which of the following is the mechanism for a decrease in splanchnic blood flow during exercise?
| A |
Venoconstriction with decreased blood flow |
|
| B |
Venodilation with decreased blood flow |
|
| C |
Venodilation with increased blood flow |
|
| D |
Venodilation with normal blood flow |
Constriction of splanchnic vessels may increase volume of blood actively circulating and this may help in perfusing the muscles by as much as 30%.
How much blood flows to skeletal muscles during exercise?
| A |
50 to 75 mL/min of blood per 100 g of muscle |
|
| B |
4 to 7 mL/min of blood per 100 g of muscle |
|
| C |
20 to 30 mL/min of blood per 100 g of muscle |
|
| D |
10 to 20 mL/min of blood per 100 g of muscle |
During exercise increase in 02 delivery to muscles is because of all except :
| A |
Oxygen dissociation curve shifts to left |
|
| B |
Increased stroke volume |
|
| C |
Increased extraction of oxygen from the blood |
|
| D |
Increased blood flow to muscles |
A i.e. Oxygen dissociation curve shifts to left
During heavy exercise the cardiac output (CO) increases upto five fold while pulmonary arterial pressure rises very little. This physiological ability of the pulmonary circulation is best explained by:
| A |
Increase in the number of open capillaries |
|
| B |
Sympathetically mediated greater distensibility of pulmonary vessels |
|
| C |
Large amount of smooth muscle in pulmonary arterioles |
|
| D |
Smaller surface area of pulmonary circulation |
A i.e. Increase in the number of open capillaries
Blood supply during exercise is increased in:
| A |
Cutaneous circulation |
|
| B |
Hepato-splanchnic circulation |
|
| C |
Renal circulation |
|
| D |
Coronary circulation |
D i.e Coronary circulation
During exercise blood is shunted from regions that do not require immediate support to areas with increased demands. (e.g. skeletal muscles, heart.)
|
|
Quiet standing |
Exercise |
Effect |
|
Cardiac output ml/min |
5900 |
24,000 |
/IV |
|
Blood flow to: |
|||
|
Active skeletal muscle |
650 |
20,850 |
’11’ |
|
Heart |
250 |
1000 |
DIe |
|
Brain |
750 |
750 |
Unchanged |
|
Skin |
500 |
500 |
Unchanged |
|
Inactive skeletal muscle |
650 |
300 |
.1, |
|
Kidney, Liver, GIT ect. |
3100 |
600 |
.1.tQ |
Blood in splanchnic area during exercise is decreased due to :
| A | Venoconstriction with decreased blood flow | |
| B | Venodilation with decreased blood flow | |
| C |
Venodilation with increased blood flow |
|
| D |
Venodilation with normal blood flow |
A i.e. Venoconstriction with decreased blood flow
During vigrous exercise, constriction of vessels in splanchnic organ, and decreased blood ‘ storage’ in liver & other portion of splanchnic bed occursQ, which may increase the volume of actively circulating blood, perfusion the muscles by as much as 30%.
Contraction of the capacitance vessels in the viscera can pump a litre of blood into the arterial circulation, in less than a minute.
| A | Increased blood flow to the muscles after half minute of minute | |
| B |
Increase in cerebral blood flow due to increase in systolic blood pressure |
|
| C |
Increase in body temperature |
|
| D |
Decreased O2 consumption |
C i.e. Increase in body temperature
Which of the following is TRUE regarding physiological changes in the brain during moderate exercise?
| A |
Blood flow is decreased |
|
| B |
Blood flow is increased |
|
| C |
Blood flow remains unaltered |
|
| D |
Blood flow initially increases & then decreases |
C i.e. Blood flow remains unchanged
A/E are the features of exercise
| A |
Left shift of Hb-O2 dissociation curve |
|
| B |
Increase blood supply to muscle |
|
| C |
Increase stroke volume |
|
| D |
Increase O2 extraction |
A i.e. Left shift of Hb-O2 Dissociation Curve
A right shift of Hb – 02 dissociation curve is seen in exercising muscle.
-the right shift occurs because of the accumulation of CO2 and increased temperature of contracting muscle
During exercise
– The contractile muscles need more 02 for energy production.
– This need is met by increasing the blood supply to the muscles. Cardiac activity increases to increase stroke volume. The capillary bed of the contracting muscle dilates and many previously closed capillaries open up.
– In contracting muscle the amount of O2 extracted from blood increases (3 fold increase in O2 extraction from each unit of blood). This is because of the right shift of Hb – O2 dissociation curve
Physiological changes during severe exercise are:
| A | Hyperventilation in the beginning | |
| B | Hyperkalemia | |
| C |
led Pa O2. |
|
| D |
a & b |
A i.e. Hyperventilation in the beginning; B i.e. Hyperkalemia
With the onset of exercise, there is an abrupt increase in ventilationQ; followed after a brief pause by further more gradual increase. The increased stimulation is presumably due to psychic stimuli and afferent impulses from proprioceptorsQ in muscles, tendons and joints.
During muscular exercise, increase in 02 consumption is proportionate to the energy expended, and all the energy needs are met by aerobic process. With more muscular exertion, aerobic resynthesis of energy stores cannot keep pace with their utilization and lactate is produced (d/t anerobic breakdown of glucose):
– With vigeourous exercise buffering of increased amount of lactic acid, liberates CO2 and this further increases ventilation. With further accumulation of lactic acid, the Tin ventilation outstrip CO2 production and alveolar 13092 falls as does arterial PCO2Q. The decline in Pco2 provides respiratory compensation for metabolic acidosis
– Arterial pH and HCO-3 decreaseQ with severe exercise due to lactic acidosis
– Strenuous exercise can cause HyperkalemiaQ by releasing K+ from skeletal muscle.
September 2005
| A | Aerobic isotonic | |
| B |
Isometric |
|
| C |
Isotonic |
|
| D |
All of the above |
Ans. C: Isotonic
While isometric training increases strength at the specific joint angles of the exercises performed and additional joint angles to a lesser extent, dynamic exercises increase strength throughout the full range of motion.
Generally speaking however, people who train isometrically don’t train through a full range of motion as the strength gained at the training joint angle is where they require it. While dynamic exercises are slightly better than isometric exercises at enhancing the twitch force of a muscle, isometrics are significantly better than dynamic exercises at increasing maximal strength at the joint angle.
Flexibility may be increased when isometrics are performed at joint range of motion extremes.
| A | Breathing for short duration against resistance | |
| B |
Breathing of decreased volume of ventilation |
|
| C |
Breathing of increased volume of ventilation for long period |
|
| D |
Breathing of decreased volume for long period |
Ans. is ‘c’ i.e., Breathing of increased volume of ventilation for long period
All are true regarding blood supply increase in muscle during exercise except
| A |
Local metabolite |
|
| B |
Sympathetic stimulation |
|
| C |
Cholinergic stimulation |
|
| D |
Inhibition of beta receptor |
Ans. D. Inhibition of beta receptor.
CHANGES IN MUSCLE BLOOD FLOW DURING EXERCISE
- The blood flow of resting skeletal muscle is low (2-4 ml./100 g/min). The muscle blood flow can increase a maximum of about 25 fold during the most strenuous exercise.Amount of blood flow to skeletal muscles during exercise : 50 to 75 mL/min of blood per 100 g of muscle.
- Dilation of arterioles in skeletal muscles due to cholinergic sympathetic nerve activity and stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors by the hormone epinephrine leads to increased blood supply.
- The local mechanisms maintaining a high blood flow in exercising muscle include a fall in tissue P02, a rise in tissue PCO2, and accumulation of K+, and other vasodilator metabolites. The rise in temperature further dilates the vessels.
| A |
Decreases |
|
| B |
Increases |
|
| C |
Does not change |
|
| D |
First increase, then decreases |
Ans. c. Does not change
Exercise
- During exercise there is a redistribution of cardiac outputQ
- Blood flow to the liver, kidneys and splanchnic circulation reducesQ.
- The blood flow to the exercising skeletal muscles and heart increases manifoldQ
- The blood flow to the brain remains unchangedQ.

