Page 8 - Fatigue

oxygen reaching the blood vessels will

decrease the oxygen reaching the cells and their

ability to make ATP. Less ATP equals less

energy. A couple of examples may help foster

understanding. When a person suffers from

asthma, the bronchioles (or small passageways)

in the lungs become obstructed so less air can

pass through and into the blood stream. In

emphysema, the surface area where oxygen

makes the transition from the lungs to the

bloodstream is greatly decreased. In each of

these cases, as well as most problems of the

lungs, there is decreased oxygen reaching the

blood stream. This means that there will be

decreased oxygen reaching the cells and a

decreased production of ATP within the cells.

Heart and Circulatory System

The purpose of your heart and circulatory

system is to move resources to the cells and

then help remove the wastes produced by the

cells so they can be expelled from the body.

Your heart is a pump which propels the blood