The function of the heart is to circulate blood around the body. The heart comprises of four chambers:
Right Atrium
Left Atrium
Right Ventricle
Left Ventricle
Functionally the heart comprises of two pumps:
The right atrium receives blood from the body (de-oxygenated blood) and the right ventricle pumps it into the lungs for aeration (removal of carbon dioxide and add oxygen).
The left atrium receives the oxygenated blood from the lungs and the left ventricle pumps it around the body.
Blood Pressure
The cardiac cycle (heartbeat) consists of cardiac muscle contraction (systole) and cardiac muscle relaxation (diastole).
Blood pressure represents the force (pressure) exerted by blood against the arterial …show more content…
The term tachycardia is applied to a rapid heart rate (over 100 bpm) and the term bradycardia indicates a slow heart rate (less than 50 bpm). Endurance athletes may have a resting heart rate of less than 50 bpm.
Cardiac …show more content…
An athlete will have a lower resting heart rate and a larger stroke volume than a non-athlete. The cardiac output for an athlete is approx. 35 litres while that for the non-athlete is 22 litres.
The following books provide more information related to this topic:
Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, G.J. Tortora et al., ISBN 0 06 046704 5
Strength Training Anatomy, F. Delavier, ISBN 0 7360 4185 0
Atlas of Skeletal Muscles, R.J. Stone et al., ISBN 0 697 13790 2
The Muscle Book, P. Blakey, ISBN 1 873017 00 6
Advanced Studies in Physical Education and Sport, P Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 4482345
Physical Education and the Study of Sport, B. Davis et al., ISBN 0 7234 31752
Essentials of Exercise Physiology, W.D. McArdle et al., ISBN 0 683 30507 7
Physical Education and Sport Studies, D. Roscoe et al., ISBN 1 901424 20 0
The World of Sport Examined, P. Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 438719 9
Advanced PE for Edexcel, F. Galligan et al., ISBN 0 435 50643 9
Examining Physical Education, K. Bizley, ISBN 0 435 50660 9
Sport and PE, K Wesson et al., ISBN 0 340 683821
PE for you, J. Honeybourne, ISBN 0 7487 3277