Question 1

What is the difference between acute and chronic effects of exercise?

Accepted Answer

Acute effects are immediate changes that happen during and right after exercise, like your heart beating faster and you breathing harder. Chronic effects are long-term adaptations from regular training over weeks or months, such as a lower resting heart rate, increased stroke volume, and stronger heart muscle. Acute effects are temporary, while chronic effects improve your overall fitness and health.

Question 2

Why does heart rate increase before exercise starts?

Accepted Answer

This is called the anticipatory rise. It happens because your brain prepares your body for activity by releasing adrenaline, which increases heart rate and breathing rate. This gets more oxygen to your muscles quickly once you start exercising. It's a natural response that helps you perform better from the beginning.

Question 3

How does regular exercise affect the heart?

Accepted Answer

Regular exercise causes chronic adaptations like cardiac hypertrophy, where the heart muscle thickens and the left ventricle gets bigger. This allows the heart to pump more blood per beat (increased stroke volume), so it doesn't need to beat as often at rest. That's why athletes have lower resting heart rates (around 40-60 bpm) compared to non-athletes (70-80 bpm).

Question 4

What happens to breathing during exercise?

Accepted Answer

During exercise, your breathing rate (breaths per minute) and tidal volume (amount of air per breath) increase to take in more oxygen and remove more carbon dioxide. This increases minute ventilation (total air breathed per minute). The body also uses accessory muscles like the intercostals and diaphragm more forcefully to expand the chest cavity.

Question 5

How does the body redirect blood during exercise?

Accepted Answer

The body uses vasodilation to widen blood vessels in working muscles, increasing blood flow to deliver oxygen and remove waste. At the same time, vasoconstriction narrows vessels in non-essential areas like the digestive system and kidneys to redirect blood to the muscles. This is called the vascular shunt mechanism.

Question 6

What is recovery and why is it important?

Accepted Answer

Recovery is the period after exercise when your body returns to its resting state. Heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure gradually decrease. It's important because it allows muscles to repair, removes lactic acid, and replenishes oxygen stores. Faster recovery indicates better cardiovascular fitness and is a key sign of training adaptations.

Effects of exercise on body systems

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Related Topics in OCR GCSE Physical Education

Aerobic and anaerobic exercise

Applied anatomy and physiology

Applying the principles of training

Characteristics of skilful movement

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