Vascular shunting and blood cells

• Plasma transports blood cells, platelets and nutrients around the body and decreases the viscosity of blood
• Red blood cells carry oxygen and remove carbon dioxide
• When oxygen is exchanged in gas exchange it binds ti the haemoglobin in red blood cells and transported to working muscles by plasma and then the plasma or red blood cells remove carbon dioxide
• Platelets stick together and to the walls of blood vessels to form a plug at an abrasion(cut)
• White blood cells help fight diseases to stop performer from getting ill
• Vascular shunting is when blood is diverted away from inactive areas to working muscles
• Blood is mainly shunted away from the stomach which is why it’s important digestion is finished before excercise
• Vasoconstriction means the blood vessels narrow at the internal lumen at the inactive areas to reduce blood flow
• When you start to excercise, chemical changes trigger signals from your nervous system to vascular shunt
• Vasodilation means the the blood vessels widen at the internal lumen to increase blood flow to active areas so they receive more oxygen and nutrients