Topic 6 - Section 6.

2
The Cardiovascular System
 6.2 The Cardiovascular System
Essential idea:
The blood system continuously transports
substances to cells and simultaneously collects
waste products.

Nature of science:
Theories are regarded as uncertain—William
Harvey overturned theories developed by the
ancient Greek philosopher Galen on movement of
blood in the body. (1.9)
 6.2 The Cardiovascular System
Understandings:
• Arteries convey blood at high pressure from the ventricles to the
tissues of the body.
• Arteries have muscle cells and elastic fibres in their walls.
• The muscle and elastic fibres assist in maintaining blood pressure
between pump cycles.
• Blood flows through tissues in capillaries. Capillaries have
permeable walls that allow exchange of materials between cells
in the tissue and the blood in the capillary.
• Veins collect blood at low pressure from the tissues of the body
and return it to the atria of the heart.
• Valves in veins and the heart ensure circulation of blood by
preventing backflow.
 6.2 The Cardiovascular System
Understandings:
• There is a separate circulation for the lungs.
• The heart beat is initiated by a group of specialized muscle cells
in the right atrium called the sinoatrial node.
• The sinoatrial node acts as a pacemaker.
• The sinoatrial node sends out an electrical signal that stimulates
contraction as it is propagated through the walls of the atria and
then the walls of the ventricles.
• The heart rate can be increased or decreased by impulses
brought to the heart through two nerves from the medulla of the
brain.
• Epinephrine increases the heart rate to prepare for vigorous
physical activity.
 6.2 The Cardiovascular System
Applications and skills:
• Application: William Harvey’s discovery of the circulation of the
blood with the heart acting as the pump.
• Application: Pressure changes in the left atrium, left ventricle and
aorta during the cardiac cycle.
• Application: Causes and consequences of occlusion of the
coronary arteries.
• Skill: Identification of blood vessels as arteries, capillaries or veins
from the structure of their walls.
• Skill: Recognition of the chambers and valves of the heart and the
blood vessels connected to it in dissected hearts or in diagrams of
heart structure.
 6.2 The Cardiovascular System
Theory of knowledge:
• Our current understanding is that emotions are the product of
activity in the brain rather than the heart. Is knowledge based on
science more valid than knowledge based on intuition?
Utilization:
• Understanding of the structure of the cardiovascular system has
allowed the development of heart surgery.
Aims:
• Aim 6: A heart dissection is suggested as a means of studying
heart structure.
• Aim 8: The social implications of coronary heart disease could be
discussed.
Skill: Recognition of the chambers and valves of the heart and the blood vessels
connected to it in dissected hearts or in diagrams of heart structure.
Skill: Recognition of the chambers and valves of the heart and the blood vessels
connected to it in dissected hearts or in diagrams of heart structure.
Skill: Recognition of the chambers and valves of the heart and the
blood vessels connected to it in dissected hearts or in diagrams of
heart structure.

•How do the atria fill with blood?

•How do the ventricles fill with

blood?

•Where does the blood go to from the

ventricles?

•What do the red arrows represent?

•What do the blue arrows represent?

•Which blood vessels will have the

higher pressure?
Skill: Recognition of the chambers and valves of the heart and the
blood vessels connected to it in dissected hearts or in diagrams of
heart structure.

•Each atrium fills with blood from the

veins.
•Ventricles are filled with blood from
their respective atria.
•Blood exits the ventricles (and heart)
in arteries.
•The red arrows suggest oxygenated
blood
•Blue arrows represent deoxygenated
blood.
•Blood enters the heart under lower
pressure in veins, it exits the heart in
arteries under high pressure.
Skill: Recognition of the chambers and valves of the heart and the
blood vessels connected to it in dissected hearts or in diagrams of
heart structure.

1. Right Atrium
2. Left Atrium
3. Superior Vena Cava
4. Aorta
5. Pulmonary Artery
6. Pulmonary Vein
7. Bicupsid ('Mitral') Valve
8. Aortic Semilunar Valve
9. Left Ventricle
10. Right Ventricle
11. Inferior Vena Cava
12. Tricuspid Valve
13. Pulmonary Semilunar Valve
 Skill: Recognition of the chambers and valves of the heart and the blood
vessels connected to it in dissected hearts or in diagrams of heart structure.
 Skill: Recognition of the chambers and valves of the heart and the blood
vessels connected to it in dissected hearts or in diagrams of heart structure.
Animation of beating heart and of heart valves.

animation
 Explain the action of the heart in terms of collecting
blood, pumping blood, and opening and closing of valves

• blood is collected in the atria

(diastole);

• blood is pumped from the atria

to the ventricles; (atrial systole)

• opened atrio-ventricular valves

allow flow from the atria to the
ventricles;

• closed semi-lunar valves

prevent backflow from the
arteries to the ventricles;
 Explain the action of the heart in terms of collecting
blood, pumping blood, and opening and closing of valves

• blood is pumped out from the ventricles to

the arteries; (ventricular systole)

• open semi-lunar valves allow flow from

ventricles to arteries;

• closed atrio-ventricular valves prevent

backflow to the atria;

• pressure generated by the heart causes

blood to move around the body;

• pacemaker (SAN) initiates each heartbeat;

 IB Qs - Outline the events that occur within the heart, which
cause blood to move around the body. (6 marks)

• blood is collected in the atria;

• blood is pumped from the atria to the ventricles;
• opened atrio-ventricular valves allow flow from the atria to the
ventricles;
• closed semi-lunar valves prevent backflow from the arteries to
the ventricles;
• blood is pumped out from the ventricles to the arteries;
• open semi-lunar valves allow flow from ventricles to arteries;
• closed atrio-ventricular valves prevent backflow to the atria;
• pressure generated by the heart causes blood to move around
the body;
• pacemaker (SAN) initiates each heartbeat;
~END~