Chronic Adaptations

Question 1

What are 3 chronic adaptations the heart can experience?

Answer 1

• Hypertrophy of cardiac muscle in the left ventricle.
• Enlargement of the left ventricle increases its volume.
• Increased cardiac contractility.

Question 2

What are the 4 chronic adaptations the blood experiences?

Answer 2

• Hypervolemia leads to greater diastolic filling, plasma volume expansion and increased red blood cell count.
• Increased arteriovenous O2 difference.
• Increased haemoglobin content.
• Increased capillarization leading to improved diffusion of oxygen capacity from alveoli to blood.

Question 3

What are the 3 chronic vascular/peripheral adaptations experienced?

Answer 3

• Decreased resting blood pressure.
• Increased muscle mass of capillaries.
• Increased blood flow redistribution.