Case Study Two
There are many biological systems and processes within the body. Essentially,
autoregulation is a biological mechanism that supports the body by responding and adjusting to
stimuli by regulate activity. The respiratory and cardiovascular system work together to provide
oxygen to the muscles and autoregulation is the feedback process that manages the oxygen needs
of regions. Autoregulation responds to muscles for constant blood flow to tissues due to
increases in blood pressure. The blood flow and oxygen delivery have a direct relationship in
autoregulation. Cardiovascular training can impact all three aspects of autoregulation to bring
systems in accordance with the body’s metabolic needs.
Autoregulation responses support blood flow and adequate oxygen delivery. This is
essentially the Robin Hood process in the body. This theory supports blood flow from tissues,
muscles, and organs where oxygen rich blood is given to tissues, muscles, and organs that are in
need and where there is oxygen poor blood. When the temperature increases in the muscle during
exercise oxygen is able to unload. Transportation of oxygen through the blood is delivered
through the attachment of hemoglobin. Oxygen needs to fluctuate within the body and muscles
send signals to the brain asking for more oxygen rich blood to flow during exercise. The increase
of oxygen and blood flow allows muscle tissue to remove excess carbon dioxide and waste.
Chemoreceptors in the muscle send afferent messages to the brain about toxic carbon dioxide
levels in tissue. The brain then receives these afferent signals and responds via efferent signals
that tell the muscles oxygen is on its way.
Vasodilation, vasoconstriction, and capillary recruitment are three aspects of
autoregulation in the body. Vasodilation occurs when an increase in lactic acid accrues and the
presence of carbon dioxide production causes the body to buffer the of increase of lactic acid.
Furthermore, the in concentration of metabolites during muscle movement can cause
vasodilation. This occurs when exercise intensity exacerbates causing an increase in cardiac
output. Vasodilation increases the diameter of the blood vessels for tissues in need of more
oxygen and nutrients. The changes in pH can cause capillaries to constrict. Vasoconstriction
causes the contradiction of organs throughout the circulatory system to be regulated by the
changes of the arterioles diameters. This creates an inverse relationship between resistance and
blood flow. For instance, if you were to row a canoe the body will respond by supplying more
oxygenated blood to the arms. Those tissues are adequately supplied with the necessary
distribution for oxygen stimuli. Capillary Recruitment is used to increase the amount of blood
flow by dilating the capillaries to allow for the entrance of oxygenated blood to the tissues.
Contrarily, not all capillaries are open to certain muscles. The sphincters of the capillaries direct
blood flow to where it is needed most and reducing the flow to inactive tissues.
In the case of Cam Oats, Cam needs to increase his aerobic capacity. Three components
that will assist Cam, to improve his aerobic capacity over several months, are well-crafted
exercise programs that embody autoregulation floured through the cardiorespiratory system. This
is achieved by both stroke volume and heart rate increase during optimal training intensity,
frequency, and duration. Training will ultimately affect the transportation of oxygen to the
muscle; thereby, increasing his functional capacity and strength. The more Cam trains his aerobic
capacity, the easier it will be for oxygen to be transported to the muscle. His aerobic capacities
will improve with cardiovascular training because as the demand for oxygen increases the heart
will work to meet those demands. The heart will pump blood more efficiently as values increase
as a result of need.
In conclusion, autoregulation is an important factor when regulating blood flow. The body
requires more ATP to meet demands during aerobic exercise. The diameter of the blood vessels
are reduced for the organs and tissues that do not require oxygenated blood at that time.
Dependent upon what exercise you are performing, autoregulation will act in favor of the
muscles being utilized. There is a limited amount of oxygen flowing to your muscle groups in a
resting state. Increase in blood flow is needed out of the resting state when performing
cardiovascular training. Tissues in the body need oxygen and the amount that they require is
dependent upon the duration and intensity of exercise.
