Online Cardiorespiratory Performance (Human Biology III) Course

• Study the heart, lungs, blood and the circulatory system
• Understand cardiorespiratory fitness, performance, and appropriate exercise to manage these aspects of the human condition
• Learn human biology to advance your career opportunities

Cardiorespiratory Performance is an advanced biology course that requires students to have previous study in Anatomy and Physiology (BSC101 Human Biology 1A or equivalent).  The course focuses on the physiology of the blood, heart, vasculature, lungs and airways.  Students will gain insight into the vital processes that occur in the healthy cardiovasular and respiratory systems and the physiology, anatomy and biochemistry and basic physics driving these processes.  Comparison between the resting and active states, as well as the impact of medical conditions and other factors on cardiorespiratory performance is made, and students will discover and investigate the regulation of this vital multi-organ system. 

Topics include pulmonary ventilation, gas exchange, gas laws, blood physiology, haemoglobin, oxygen and carbon dioxide transport, cardiac output, electrocardiograms, oxygen utilisation and energy production, cardiac output, lung function and more.

There are 7 lessons in this course:

1. The Science of Blood
   • The Functions of Blood
   • Components of Blood
   • Blood Typing
   • Blood Cells
   • Hematopoiesis; Erythropoiesis, Leukopoiesis, Lymphopoiesis
   • Blood Cell function; Erythrocytes, Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils, Thrombocytes
   • etc
   • The Immune Response
   • Haemostasis
   • Clotting Mechanism
   • Haemodynamics
   • Circulatory Networks
   • Blood Testing
   • Full Blood Count
   • Cross Matching
   • Blood Cultures
   • Arterial Blood Gas
   • Biochemical and Metabolic Tests
   • INR
   • Blood Disorders; Red & White Blood disorders, Blood Clotting, Poisoning
   • Lymphatic System
2. Blood Pressure
   • Factors Affecting Blood Pressure; cardiac output, peripheral resistance, blood volume
   • How Blood Pressure is Measured
   • The Cardiac Cycle
   • Heart Muscle Cell Contraction
   • Electrical Control of the Heart Muscle Cells; Sinoatrial Node (SA Node), Atrioventricular Node (AV Node), Bundle of His (Atrioventricular bundle), Purkinje Fibres
   • Blood Pressure Problems
   • Systolic hypertension, Diastolic hypertension and Hypertension
   • Distribution of Blood Flow
   • Regulating Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
   • Sensors
   • Problems with Heart Rate; variations, and other conditions including Myocardial infarction and Cardiac Tamponade
   • Electrocardiograms and their Interpretation
3. Pulmonary Ventilation
   • The Respiratory System
   • Respiratory Epithelium
   • The Lungs
   • Lung Anatomy
   • Alveoli
   • Airway Anatomy
   • Nasal and oral cavities
   • Pharynx
   • Epiglottis
   • Larynx
   • Trachea
   • Bronchi and bronchioles
   • Physiology of Breathing; Equilibrium, Pressure, Inspiration, Expiration
   • Physiological Measures of Lung Capacity and Function; Total Lung Capacity, Tidal Volume, Vital Capacity, Forced Vital Capacity, IRV, ERV, Functional Residual Capacity, MV, VO2 Max, etc
   • Effect of Exercise on Pulmonary Ventilation
4. Gas Exchange & Transport
   • Gas Exchange in the Human Body
   • External Respiration
   • Oxygen Transport
   • Internal Respiration
   • Haemoglobin
   • Carbon Dioxide Transport
   • Biochemistry of Gas Exchange; Boyle’s Law, Charles’ Law, Dalton’s Law, Henry’s Law, etc
   • Factors Affecting Gas Exchange; Partial pressure Gradients, Gas Solubility, Membrane thickness, etc
   • Compliance
   • Respiratory Control
5. Blood Flow & Gas Transport
   • Blood Flow; Volume, Target
   • Gas Transport
   • Arterial-Alveolar Gradient
   • Oxygen Transport
   • Factors Effecting Oxygen Release by Haemoglobin
   • The Bohr-Haldane Effect
   • Cellular Respiration
   • Energy Production; anaerobic and aerobic
   • Blood Flow During Exercise and Rest
6. Cardio Respiratory Control
   • Cardio Respiratory Control and the Nervous System
   • Input Sensors
   • The CV Centre
   • High Brain Centres
   • Baroreceptors and Chemoreceptors
   • The Respiratory Centre
   • Starling’s Law
   • Capillaries
   • The Control of Heart and Lungs During Exercise
7. Cardio Respiratory Disease
   • Cardiac Diseases and Injuries
   • Chronic Heart Failure
   • Congestive Heart Failure
   • Myocardial Infarction and Ischemia
   • Cardiovascular Diseases
   • Coronary Heart Disease
   • Atherosclerosis
   • Aneurysm
   • Vasculitis
   • Venous thrombosis
   • Varicose veins
   • Causes of Cardiovascular Disease; lifestyle, diet, obesity, genetics, smoking, hypertension, etc
   • Respiratory Disease
   • Asthma
   • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
   • Emphysema
   • Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
   • Effects of Cardio Pulmonary Disease

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

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