Which is not a significant impact of exercise on blood?
a. an increase in blood volume delivered to the working muscles
b. improved delivery of oxygen and nutrients and removal of waste products
c. movement of plasma out of tissues surrounding muscles and into the blood vessels to facilitate cooling
d. elevated hematocrit and hemoglobin levels
Answer: c. movement of plasma out of tissues surrounding muscles and into the blood vessels to facilitate cooling
All these are significant responses to exercise on the blood except the movement of plasma flows out of the blood into the tissues in efforts to cool. This is why after periods of prolonged exercise, peripheral limbs may feel slightly swollen or fluid-filled. The fluid of the plasma gives the body more water to sweat (cooling effect) and is more pronounced in hot environments. This is called cardiovascular drift.