AQA · A-Level · Physical Education
Course version: 7582 · Version from Sept 2016
Cardiovascular system: Anticipatory rise.
Anticipatory rise is the increase in heart rate, and therefore cardiac output, that occurs before physical activity begins.
Checked against the AQA 7582 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 5 of 25
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Anticipatory rise is the increase in heart rate, and therefore cardiac output, that occurs before physical activity begins. It is triggered by the anticipation of exercise: the cerebral cortex and limbic system send impulses to the medullary cardiovascular control centre, and sympathetic outflow to the sinoatrial node increases while parasympathetic (vagal) tone falls. Adrenaline and noradrenaline from the adrenal medulla reinforce the effect. Proprioceptors in muscles and joints also contribute once movement is imminent. The benefit is that oxygen delivery to working muscles is increased from the very start of activity, reducing the initial oxygen deficit.
What earns the marks
- Anticipatory rise is an increase in heart rate before exercise starts, caused by anticipation of the activity.
- The cerebral cortex and limbic system stimulate the medullary cardiovascular control centre.
- Sympathetic outflow to the sinoatrial node increases and parasympathetic (vagal) tone decreases.
- Adrenaline and noradrenaline from the adrenal medulla reinforce the rise in heart rate.
- Proprioceptor input as movement begins adds to the response.
- The effect is a higher cardiac output at the start of exercise, which reduces the initial oxygen deficit.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Defining anticipatory rise as the rise during exercise.
Put it right: It happens before activity begins, driven by anticipation.
Attributing it only to adrenaline.
Put it right: Neural input from the cortex and limbic system to the medulla is the primary trigger, with hormones reinforcing it.
Confusing it with the oxygen deficit.
Put it right: Anticipatory rise helps reduce the oxygen deficit but is not the same thing.
Ignoring the role of the parasympathetic system.
Put it right: Vagal tone decreases as part of the response.
Exam tips
- State clearly that the rise occurs before exercise, not during it.
- Name the control centre and the autonomic branches involved.
- Link the response to its purpose: increased oxygen delivery and reduced oxygen deficit at the start of activity.
- Read multiple-choice options carefully for words such as before, during and after.
Try the lesson
The start of the Cardiovascular system: Anticipatory rise. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which change in heart rate occurs in the seconds immediately before a sprint start, when a performer is on the blocks waiting for the gun?
Listen
Anticipatory rise is the increase in heart rate, and therefore cardiac output, that occurs before physical activity begins. It is triggered by the anticipation of exercise: the cerebral cortex and limbic system send impulses to the medullary cardiovascular control centre, and sympathetic outflow to the sinoatrial node increases while parasympathetic (vagal) tone falls. Adrenaline and noradrenaline from the adrenal medulla reinforce the effect. Proprioceptors in muscles and joints also contribute once movement is imminent. The benefit is that oxygen delivery to working muscles is increased from the very start of activity, reducing the initial oxygen deficit. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Anticipatory rise is an increase in heart rate before exercise starts, caused by anticipation of the activity. The cerebral cortex and limbic system stimulate the medullary cardiovascular control centre. Sympathetic outflow to the sinoatrial node increases and parasympathetic (vagal) tone decreases. Adrenaline and noradrenaline from the adrenal medulla reinforce the rise in heart rate. A common slip: Defining anticipatory rise as the rise during exercise. Instead, it happens before activity begins, driven by anticipation. Exam tip: State clearly that the rise occurs before exercise, not during it.
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Anticipatory rise
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Autonomic control of heart rate
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Hormonal reinforcement of cardiac response
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Oxygen deficit at the onset of exercise
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See every definition
- Anticipatory rise
- The increase in heart rate, and therefore cardiac output, that occurs before physical activity begins, triggered by the anticipation of exercise.
- Autonomic control of heart rate
- Sympathetic outflow to the sinoatrial node increases while parasympathetic (vagal) tone falls, following impulses from the cerebral cortex and limbic system to the medullary cardiovascular control centre.
- Hormonal reinforcement of cardiac response
- Adrenaline and noradrenaline from the adrenal medulla reinforce the effect of the anticipatory rise.
- Oxygen deficit at the onset of exercise
- The initial oxygen deficit is reduced because oxygen delivery to working muscles is increased from the very start of activity.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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