National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Group Fitness Instructor Practice Exam

What is the primary function of the cardiovascular system during exercise?

1. To provide hydration to tissues

2. To regulate body temperature

3. To deliver oxygen and nutrients to muscles

4. To remove waste products from the body

The correct answer is: To deliver oxygen and nutrients to muscles

The primary function of the cardiovascular system during exercise is to deliver oxygen and nutrients to muscles. When engaging in physical activity, the muscles require increased amounts of oxygen and essential nutrients to sustain energy production and support their metabolic demands. The cardiovascular system plays a crucial role by increasing heart rate and blood flow, ensuring that oxygen-rich blood is transported efficiently to working muscles. Additionally, as exercise intensity rises, the body relies on the cardiovascular system to adapt to the changing demands. This includes redirecting blood from less active areas, such as the digestive system, to the muscles in use. This delivery of oxygen and nutrients is vital for enhancing performance, endurance, and overall physiological function during exercise. While other functions of the cardiovascular system, such as regulating body temperature and removing waste products, are important and occur simultaneously, they serve as secondary effects in comparison to the primary role of oxygen and nutrient delivery during exercise. Hydration is managed more directly by the renal and endocrine systems, and although waste removal is critical, it is primarily a subsequent result of the oxygen and nutrient exchange.