Practice exam questions - extended question and answer
Analyse the effect that continuous training on the cardiovascular and respiratory system may have for a 5 km runner. (9)
- decreased resting heart rate
- increased resting stroke volume
- increased maximum cardiac output
- increased size of the heart
- increased capillarisation
- increase in number of red blood cells
- drop in resting blood pressure
- increased lung capacity
- increased lung volume
- increased vital capacity
- increased number of alveoli
- increased strength of diaphragm
- increased strength of external intercostal muscles
- improvement of 5km running performance
In this answer, there are just bullet points that identify the long term adaptations to training on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems – it would therefore not be able to be awarded any more than 3 marks. The question has requested an analysis of how these changes affect 5 km running so in order to achieve the higher marks, an analysis would need to be carried out.
For example:
Continuous training is a form of aerobic training so it would lead to adaptations in both the cardiovascular and respiratory systems which would improve 5 km running performance.
There would be capillarisation around the alveoli which would mean that more oxygen, which is needed to supply energy for 5 km running, could be transported into the blood. Also, more carbon dioxide which is a waste product of aerobic exercise can be taken from the muscles by the blood to the alveoli and breathed out of the lungs.