Cardiorespiratory Performance is ideal for students with a biological science background, and is also an excellent addition to a Certificate or higher level course in health and biology fields.

Students will cover a variety of related topics in order to learn how the cardiovascular and respiratory systems function cooperatively to keep the body alive.  Monitoring and regulatory mechanisms governing cardiorespiratory functions are investigated, along with the physical laws and biochemical processes that explain how and why the cardiorespiratory system works in the way it does.  From gas exchange, cellular energy production, cardiomyocyte contraction, alveolar structure and function, gas laws, blood physiology and cellular oxygen demand, students will develop a sound understanding of breathing and blood flow.

There are 7 lessons in this course:

1. The Science of Blood
2. Blood Pressure
3. Pulmonary Ventilation
4. Gas Exchange & Transport
5. Blood Flow & Gas Transport
6. Cardio Respiratory Control
7. Cardio Respiratory 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.

• Explain how blood affects human health, including its nature, how it works and its significance.
• Explain blood pressure and its relationship to health and fitness.
• Explain the physiology of pulmonary ventilation.
• Explain the physiology of gas exchange and transport.
• Explain relationship between blood flow and gas transport in the body.
• Explain the physiology of cardio-respiratory control.
• Explain the physiology of cardio-respiratory disease.

• Apply physical formulas to explain movement of gases in the body
• Understand the cellular need for oxygen
• Investigate removal of carbon dioxide from the body
• Learn the importance of carbon dioxide in blood chemistry
• Understand how cells produce energy aerobically and anaerobically, and how the body cardiorespiratory system deals with the waste products of these processes
• Develop their understanding of homeostasis and equilibrium, diffusion and osmosis and the importance of each to gas exhange
• Test concepts practically using common household items
• Analyse data from basic experiments to develop their knowledge of lesson topics
• Examine the role of fitness and exercise in cardiorespiratory health and function
• Interpret electrocardiograms
• Discover the impact of different conditions, illnesses and disease processes on cardiorespiratory performance