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The Cardiovascular System

Blood gases, lactic acid and pH in exercise

  • 3 things to know
  • A2 2

Overview

Venous and arterial oxygen in exercise, carbon dioxide transport, blood pH and lactic acid, resting lactate and OBLA, buffering, chemoreceptors and a lactate calculation.

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Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

How does exercise change the oxygen content of venous blood?

Key term

How does exercise affect the oxygen content of arterial blood in a healthy person?

Key term

How does exercise change the carbon dioxide level of the blood?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How does exercise change the oxygen content of venous blood?

    Model answer

    Venous blood leaving working muscles carries much less oxygen during exercise. The muscles extract more oxygen to meet their higher demand.

  2. 2

    How does exercise affect the oxygen content of arterial blood in a healthy person?

    Model answer

    Arterial blood usually stays almost fully saturated with oxygen during exercise. Faster, deeper breathing keeps pace with the extra oxygen used.

  3. 3

    How does exercise change the carbon dioxide level of the blood?

    Model answer

    The working muscles produce more carbon dioxide from aerobic respiration. The partial pressure of CO₂ in venous blood rises.

  4. 4

    How is carbon dioxide transported in the blood?

    Model answer

    Hydrogencarbonate ions in the plasma carry about 70% of carbon dioxide. Haemoglobin carries about 23% as carbaminohaemoglobin, and about 7% is dissolved in plasma.

  5. 5

    Why does a rise in carbon dioxide lower blood pH?

    Model answer

    Carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid. Carbonic acid releases hydrogen ions, which lower blood pH.

  6. 6

    Why does lactic acid build up during high-intensity exercise?

    Model answer

    Pyruvate is converted to lactic acid when anaerobic glycolysis supplies energy faster than oxygen can be delivered. Lactic acid is then produced faster than it can be removed.

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AThe target heart rate is about 168 bpm.
BMaximum heart rate is 220 − 18 = 202 bpm.
CThe working is 0.75 × (202 − 65) + 65 = 167.75 bpm.

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