Controlling The Heart Beat 1

SAN Sino Atrial Node

AVN Atrio Ventricular Node
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.
Conduction system of the heart
Controlling The Heart Beat 2
The Electrical Key
Sequence
1

5
The Electrical Key
Sequence
1 SAN

Waves of
2 depolarisation travel
through the atria

3 AVN

4 Bundle of His

Waves of
5 depolarisation travel
through the ventricle
walls
 Heart Beat noise

The noise of the heart beat (lub

dub) is due to the valves closing.

The lub noise is due to the AV

valves closing.

The dub noise is due to the SL

valves closing
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 Valves Prevent back flow of the
blood

Tendinous chords attached to

Papillary Muscles prevent
valves turning inside out.
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 AV
Valves Valves
Exam Question June 2009 Qu.
3a
SL AV
Valves Valves

Close Open
d
Open Close
d
Close Open
d
 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
 Exam Type Question

By referring to the
graph, describe how
the pressure changes
in the cardiac cycle
relate to what is
happening in the
 Definitions

Heart rate: number of heartbeats per

minute

Stroke volume: volume of blood (cm3)

pumped by heart in 1 beat

Cardiac output: stroke volume x heart

rate

(i.e. amount of blood (cm3) pumped by heart

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
Cardiovascular centre
Diameter of blood vessels controlled by
stimulation of sympathetic and parasympathetic
nerves
Smoking
Nicotine causes vasoconstriction
Build up of fatty deposits in vessels
Diet
High fat diet leads to build up of fatty deposits in
blood vessels
Adrenaline
Causes selective vasoconstriction & vasodilation
Increase in blood viscosity
Excess water loss (sweating/excessive urination)
Finding your pulse

Carotid artery

Radial artery