BIOL 2420 Cardiac Physiology Practice Worksheet: This is an optional study tool to help you master

physiology concepts. It is designed to be completed in conjunction with Interactive Physiology Tutorials, yet still
useful in the absence of the software. Answers are in a separate document.
Cardiovascular System: Cardiac Action Potential
1.

How do the waves of depolarization, generated by the autorhythmic cells spread to the muscle cells? Circle
one: through ion channels linking cardiac myocytes/ through gap junctions

2.

Depolarizing current from the autorhythmic cells causes the ventricular muscle cells to ______________.

3.

Name the three channels essential for generating an action potential and indicate which way the ions move
(circle the correct one):

4.

1. ______________ channels

into

or

out of

2. ______________ channels

into

or

out of

3. ______________ channels

into

or

out of

If the sodium channel or the fast calcium channels are open, the inside of the cell would be relatively more
positive/negative

5.

The pacemaker potential is due to a/an (decreased or increased) efflux of ____ ions compared to a normal
influx of ____ ions.

6.

Threshold for the action potential in the SA node is at ____ mV. What channels open, causing
depolarization? ______________

7.

The reversal of membrane potential causes the _____ channels to open, causing the ______________ of
the membrane.

8.

The ______________ pumps sodium out and potassium into the cell, restoring ion concentrations to their
resting levels.

9.
10.

Where is calcium stored in the contractile cells? ______________

Gap junctions allow what cations to pass into the cardiac contractile cells, causing the opening of voltagegated sodium channels? _________________________

11.

State the voltage-gated channels responsible for the following stages of the action potential in cardiac
contractile cells:
a. Depolarization ______________________
b. Plateau ______________________
c. Repolarization ______________________

12.

What channels in the autorhythmic cells allow ions to leak in, producing a pacemaker potential? (Quiz
section) ______________

13.

What channels in the autorhythmic cells bring about depolarization? _____________

Cardiovascular System: Intrinsic Conduction System

1.

The intrinsic conduction system consists of _______________ ____________ cells that initiate and
distribute _______________ throughout the heart.

2.

The intrinsic conduction system coordinates heart activity by determining the direction and speed of
________________. This leads to a coordinated heart contraction.

3.

List the functions for the following parts of the intrinsic conduction system:
a. SA node ____________________________
b. Internodal pathway __________________________
c. AV node ____________________________
d. AV bundle (bundle of His) ____________________________
e. Bundle branches __________________________
f.

4.

Purkinje fibers ____________________________

The action potentials spread from the autorhythmic cells of the intrinsic conduction system (electrical
event) to the ______________ cells. The resulting mechanical events cause a heartbeat.

5.

A tracing of the electrical activity of the heart is called a/an ________________.

6.

What do the following wave forms reflect?

a. P wave ____________________________
b. QRS complex ____________________________
c. T wave ____________________________

7.

In a normal ECG wave tracing, atrial repolarization is hidden by the ___________________.

8.

Electrical events lead to mechanical events. For example, the P wave represents ____________
depolarization, which leads to atrial _____________.

9.
10.

A left bundle branch block would have a wider than normal wave for the ____________.
An abnormally fast heart rate (over 100 beats per minute) is called ______________.

Cardiovascular System: Cardiac Cycle

1.

Valves open in response to __________________________ on their two sides.

2.

List the chambers/vessels that the four valves connect:

Chamber

Valve

Chamber/Vessel

Pulmonary semilunar
Aortic semilunar
Mitral
Tricuspid
3.

a. Ventricular filling occurs during ______________ ventricular ____________.

b. Blood flows through the __________, or __________, valves into the ventricles.

4.

During ventricular systole, what pressure differential closes the AV valves?

5.

During ventricular systole, what pressure differential opens the semilunar valves?

6.

During isovolumetric relaxation, what event and pressure differential closes the semilunar valves?

7.

During isovolumetric relaxation, what pressure differential opens the AV valves?

8.

Why is hypertension hard on the heart?

9.

Looking at a Ventricular Volume graph, normal stroke volume is approximately how many ml? ________

10.

During the four phases listed below, state whether the AV and semilunar valves are open or closed:
Phase

AV Valves

Semilunar Valves

Ventricular filling
Isovolumetric contraction
Ventricular ejection
Isovolumetric relaxation

Cardiovascular System: Cardiac Output

1.

Define cardiac output (CO).

2.

Write the equation for CO.

3.

Define stroke volume (SV).

4.

Write the equation for SV.

5.

Write normal values (include correct units) for the following:

a. HR (heart rate) = ___________________________
b. SV (stroke volume) = ___________________________
c. EDV (end diastolic volume) = ___________________________
d. ESV (end systolic volume) = ___________________________

6.

Given the values for HR and SV above, calculate cardiac output:

CO =

7.

Explain how the following factors affect HR, SV, and CO by placing arrows (, , or for no change)
under them.

8.

HR

SV

CO

a. SNS

____

____

____

b. Venous return

____

____

____

c. Exercise

____

____

____

d. Calcium

____

____

____

e. HR

____

____

____

Why would stroke volume increase with an increase in the sympathetic nervous system or an increase in
calcium?

9.

Why would stroke volume increase when heart rate slows down?

10.

If stroke volume is 75 ml/beat and heart rate is 80 beats/min, how many 2 Liter soda bottles would equal
the correct volume ______________