Equine Cardiovascular and Respiratory System
Laboratory report investigating the equine respiratory and cardiovascular systems
Introduction
The respiratory and cardiovascular systems of the horse work together to transport oxygen around the body and play an essential part in providing the horse with its increased need for oxygen during exercise. They allow the musculoskeletal system to use energy to facilitate motion.
The cardiovascular system comprises the heart, blood vessels and blood. The heart pumps blood around the body via the blood vessels which carry deoxygenated and oxygenated blood to and from the lungs. The red blood cells contain a protein called haemoglobin which binds oxygen and carries it to the muscles.
The respiratory system consists of the upper respiratory tract (URT) and the lower respiratory tract (LRT). The URT comprises the nostrils, nasal cavities, pharynx, larynx and the trachea. The LRT comprises the bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli and the lungs. Together their function is to facilitate the exchange of gases, namely oxygen and carbon dioxide. Air travels to the alveoli through the URT and the LRT and the oxygen diffuses into the bloodstream. Carbon dioxide diffuses out of the bloodstream into the alveoli and is then expired through the respiratory system. The oxygenated blood is carried back to the heart and is circulated to those body tissues requiring oxygen, including exercising muscles.
The aim of this experiment is to look at the effects exercise has on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and to ascertain how they can develop with training. This will be done by measuring the temperature, heart rate and respiration rate of the horse before and after exercise.
Literature Review
When the horse goes from resting to exercise there is a big increase in heart output which means that the cardiovascular system has to make changes to the way it operates. The output is enhanced by metabolic vasodilation in the muscles at first and blood pressure decreases
Introduction
The respiratory and cardiovascular systems of the horse work together to transport oxygen around the body and play an essential part in providing the horse with its increased need for oxygen during exercise. They allow the musculoskeletal system to use energy to facilitate motion.
The cardiovascular system comprises the heart, blood vessels and blood. The heart pumps blood around the body via the blood vessels which carry deoxygenated and oxygenated blood to and from the lungs. The red blood cells contain a protein called haemoglobin which binds oxygen and carries it to the muscles.
The respiratory system consists of the upper respiratory tract (URT) and the lower respiratory tract (LRT). The URT comprises the nostrils, nasal cavities, pharynx, larynx and the trachea. The LRT comprises the bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli and the lungs. Together their function is to facilitate the exchange of gases, namely oxygen and carbon dioxide. Air travels to the alveoli through the URT and the LRT and the oxygen diffuses into the bloodstream. Carbon dioxide diffuses out of the bloodstream into the alveoli and is then expired through the respiratory system. The oxygenated blood is carried back to the heart and is circulated to those body tissues requiring oxygen, including exercising muscles.
The aim of this experiment is to look at the effects exercise has on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and to ascertain how they can develop with training. This will be done by measuring the temperature, heart rate and respiration rate of the horse before and after exercise.
Literature Review
When the horse goes from resting to exercise there is a big increase in heart output which means that the cardiovascular system has to make changes to the way it operates. The output is enhanced by metabolic vasodilation in the muscles at first and blood pressure decreases
References: Evans, D.L. & Rose, R.J. 1988. Cardiovascular and respiratory responses in thoroughbred horses during treadmill exercise. Journal of experimental biology 134, 397-408. Evans Gillespie, J.R. 1990. Breathing of the equine athlete during exercise. In Proceedings of the International conference on equine sports medicine (ed Parks, C.M. and Manohar, M. (1983), Distribution of blood flow during moderate and strenuous exercise in ponies (Equus caballus) Am J Vet Res, 44, 1861 – 1866 Pelletier, N., Blais, D Pilliner, S. & Davies, Z. 2004. Equine Science, 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Sexton, W.L., Erickson, H.H Thomas, D.P. & Fregin, G.F. 1981. Cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses to treadmill exercise in the horse. Journal of Applied Physiology 50, 864-868.