The Cardiorespiratory System

This chapter explores the function of the organs that comprise the cardiorespiratory system. The cardiovascular system consists of an elaborate network of vessels that comprise the circulatory system and a pump, known as the heart, that is responsible for the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to active organs and muscles and for removing the waste products of metabolism. The chapter identifies the components of the cardiac cycle and the specific patterns of the P-QRS-T complex. The heart muscle, referred to as the myocardium, is similar in appearance to striated skeletal muscle. The chapter explains the changes in cardiac output during exercise and assesses and analyzes blood pressure readings. It discusses the importance of the respiratory system with the cardiovascular system and analyses the distribution of blood flow in response to exercise. The chapter discusses the impact the environment may have on the cardiorespiratory system.