Controlling The Heart Beat 1

1) The SAN transmits impulses

throughout the atria, which contract.
The ventricles are electrically insulated
from the atria, so do not contract.
2) The electrical impulse passes to the
ventricles via (AVN), the bundle of His
and the Purkinje fibres.
3) These pass the electrical impulse to
the base of the ventricles.
4)The ventricles therefore contract
shortly after the atria, from the
bottom up, squeezing blood upwards
into the arteries.
SAN Sino Atrial Node
AVN Atria Ventricular Node
Conduction system of the heart
Controlling The Heart Beat 2
2
3
4
5
1
Key
The Electrical Sequence
2
3
4
5
1
SAN
Impulses through
atria
AVN
Bundle of His
Impulse through
ventricle walls
Key
The Electrical Sequence
Heart Beat noise

The Cardiac Cycle
Diastole vs Systole

Exam Question May 2010 Qu. 2b
(b) The diagram shows the
structure of the heart.






Suggest which stage of the cardiac cycle is shown in
the diagram and give a reason for your answer (2)

Exam Question May 2010 Qu. 2b
Suggest which stage of the cardiac
cycle is shown in the diagram &
give a reason for your answer (2)

Answer:
1. diastole/ atrial systole;
2. The {atrio-ventricular / bicuspid / tricuspid}
valves are open / semi-lunar valves are closed ;


Exam Question June 2009 Qu. 3a
Exam Question June 2009 Qu. 3a
SL Valves AV Valves
Exam Question June 2009 Qu. 3a
SL Valves AV Valves
Closed Open
Open Closed
Closed Open
Exam Question June 2009 Qu. 3b
(b) Describe the roles of the atrio-
ventricular (bicuspid and tricuspid) valves
during the cardiac cycle. (4)

Exam Question June 2009 Qu. 3b
(b) Describe the roles of the atrio-ventricular (bicuspid and
tricuspid) valves during the cardiac cycle. (4)

Answers:

1. Valves {separate} atria from ventricles;
2. Open during atrial {systole/contraction}
3. So that blood can pass through to ventricles
4. Closed during ventricular {systole/ contraction}
5. To prevent {blood being forced back /backflow} (up
into atria) / to maintain pressure in ventricles ;
6. Open during diastole / eq
7. So that ventricles can start to fill up (as atria are filling)


Exam Type Question
By referring to the graph,
describe how the pressure
changes in the cardiac cycle
relate to what is happening
in the ventricle. (4 marks)
Definitions

Heart rate: number of heartbeats per minute

Stroke volume: volume of blood (cm
3
)
pumped by heart in 1 beat

Cardiac output: stroke volume x heart rate

(i.e. amount of blood (cm
3
) pumped by heart
in 1 minute)
Exam Question June 2009 Qu. 3c
Exam Question June 2009 Qu. 3c

Answer:
Use the graph to calculate the Number
of beats per minute (bpm)
Recording blood pressure
Systolic blood pressure:
Maximum blood pressure
Occurs when ventricles are
contracting (at the end of the cardiac
cycle)

Diastolic blood pressure:
Minimum blood pressure
Occurs when ventricles are relaxed
and filled with blood (at the beginning
of the cardiac cycle)
Measuring blood pressure
Sphygmomanometer
Recording blood pressure
Blood pressure is:

Systolic BP/Diastolic BP

e.g. 120/80 mm Hg

Diastolic pressure gives clearest
indication of resistance to flow in
blood vessels

Rough estimate of systolic BP is your
age +100
Factors affecting blood pressure
Diameter of blood vessels controlled by
stimulation of sympathetic and parasympathetic
nerves
Nicotine causes vasoconstriction
Build up of fatty deposits in vessels
High fat diet leads to build up of fatty deposits in
blood vessels
Causes selective vasoconstriction & vasodilation
Excess water loss (sweating/excessive urination)

Finding your pulse
Radial artery
Carotid artery