Project 4.4.

1: Student Resource Sheet

Use the questions below to help you focus your research. How do the human body
systems we have discussed thus far react and respond to exercise during each leg of
the race?

AT THE START

1. We have talked about the central and peripheral nervous systems. We

know that the peripheral nervous system relays signals to and from the spinal
cord. But this system is divided yet again. What are the two main divisions of the
peripheral nervous system? How do these systems relate to the three types of
muscle?
a. The two divisions of this system are the somatic and
autonomic peripheral nervous systems. The somatic has to do with the
voluntary movement of skeletal muscle whereas the autonomic nervous
system controls involuntary muscles such as cardiac and smooth muscles.
2. Why is the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system active
just before the race?
a. Its general action is to mobilize the bodys resources under
stress; to induce the fight-or-flight response. However, being constantly
active at a basal level maintain homeostasis. When Mary is about to race,
the pressure and the stress of having to do her best in the race makes her
autonomic nervous system more active due to stress.
3. How does the nervous system influence other body systems at the start of
the race?
a. When the race is almost ready to begin, Marys nervous
system sends signals to her heart, causing her respiratory rate to
increase. Since there is an increase in her heart rate, it is causing her to
breathe and sweat more in order to maintain a normal body temperature.
4. What is happening to the digestive and urinary systems at the start of the
race? Why?
a. When Mary's stress level rises, her digestive system
feedback starts to occur. The change in her urinary system is occurring
due to her sweating. Since Mary's body is becoming stressed because of
the race, her kidneys are working harder. The kidneys play a large role in
the urinary system; they control a lot of the body's functions, such as the
electrolytes and water balance in the body.
5. What is happening to Marys blood glucose levels right before the race?
Relate this change to energy and ATP.
a. Since Mary has been constantly sweating, this causes
dehydration at the beginning of the race. Mary has been sweating a lot
because her glucose levels dropped.
6. Why does her mouth feel dry?

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Human Body Systems Project 4.4.1 Student Resource Sheet - Page 1
 a. At the start of the race, Mary has many different changes
happening to her body. Her mouth is dry is because her salivary glands
have started to slow down its production of saliva in the mouth. At some
points, she is not secreting any saliva at all.

1 MINUTE INTO THE RACE

1. Running at a sprint puts new demands on Marys body. What are these
demands and how are they being met?
a. The new demands are primarily for oxygen. The body has
used up its remaining supply of ATP and is now partaking in aerobic
respiration. The body is drawing from its supply of glycogen in the muscles
and liver is converted to glucose where in the oxygen allows it to be
broken down into carbon dioxide and water.
2. Why do Marys muscles feel like they are burning? Relate this burn to
information about ATP production.
a. Marys muscles are burning because prior to aerobic
respiration taking place, anaerobic respiration would be occurring where in
energy is provided without the presence of oxygen. Lactic acid is
produced as a byproduct which leads to this sensation.
3. Why does Marys respiratory rate increase as she starts to run? Provide
two reasons.
a. Her respiratory rate increases as she starts to run because
her body is trying to take in as much oxygen as possible to provide for
aerobic respiration. The oxygen is then used to provide the body with
energy by breaking down glucose.
4. How does Marys increase in heart rate relate to cardiac output?
a. Her cardiac output would be raised in relation to the heart
rate increase as her body needs blood to be circulated more quickly so
that in turn the oxygen can be put to use more efficiently.
5. How does the nervous system interact with the cardiovascular and
respiratory systems to increase the blood flow to the muscles?
a. The nervous system signals both these other systems to
increase function at the beginning of the race. It communicates with the
rest of the body to make up for deficits in energy or oxygen.

HALFWAY THROUGH THE RACE

1. Why does Marys body temperature start to increase? What is one of the
main by-products of muscle contraction?
a. Her body temperature rises because the majority of the
energy that powers your muscles is lost as heat. One of the main by-
products of muscle contraction is lactic acid.
2. How does sweat work for the body?
a. Sweat glands produce a mixture of water and chemicals that
evaporate from the skin resulting in heat being drawn from the body.
3. What part of the brain helps stimulate the sweat glands in the skin?
a. The hypothalamus helps stimulate the sweat glands

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 because it is the bodys thermometer. It regulates body temperature by
stimulating the sweat glands.
4. How does the urinary system deal with the loss of water through sweat?
What did Mary do before the race to try to alleviate this conflict?
a. The urinary system conserves more water if a lot is lost
through sweat, this causes less urine to be produced. She sat in the
shade to help maintain a constant, normal body temperature.
5. Why does Mary feel a bit more comfortable during the middle of the race?
Where is she drawing her energy at this point?
a. She is more comfortable because her body is used to the
energy usage of breathing in oxygen and using it to make ATP

AT THE FINISH

1. Why does Mary feel dizzy at the end of the race?

a. As oxygen is being expended at an increased rate (the
muscles use up more and more oxygen) and Mary is unable to take in the
necessary amount of oxygen through respiration, she becomes dizzy.
2. Why is Marys heart rate and breathing rate so high even though she has
stopped moving?
a. Even if you stop running, your body has still not replenished
its oxygen levels. Therefore, the heart and lungs continue to work harder
to try to return to homeostasis.
3. Why did Mary only sip water at the end of the race? What could happen if
she drank water too fast?
a. She only sips water because too much water will disrupt the
solutes in your body. Too much water will cause Marys cells to swell and
possibly burst (this would kill her).

10 MINUTES AFTER THE RACE

1. What division of the autonomic nervous system is at work now? How does
this division impact Marys other body systems?
a. The parasympathetic nervous system is at work, the part of
the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for conserving energy. It
does this by decreasing blood pressure (circulatory system), heart rate
decreases (circulatory system), beginning digestion (digestive system),
producing saliva and mucus (digestive system), and increasing urine
production (urinary system).
2. Explain how Mary could have lost four pounds in such a short period of
time.
a. She lost it from sweating and burning fat to use as energy
during the race.
3. How will Marys actions and her endocrine system work to bring her body
back into water balance?
a. Hormones will be produced by the adrenal cortex that will
regulate salt and water, and ADH will be released. Kidneys will reabsorb
water in the urine by decreasing urine volume. Blood vessels will narrow

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Human Body Systems Project 4.4.1 Student Resource Sheet - Page 3
 which will increase blood pressure. There will be greater blood particle
concentration from sweating and possibly dehydration.
4. Why do Marys muscles still feel so sore?
a. When the cell uses anaerobic metabolism to produce ATP,
lactic acid is produced. Lactic acid causes the pain and soreness when
there is a large concentration in muscle tissue

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Human Body Systems Project 4.4.1 Student Resource Sheet - Page 4