1. Control of the Cardiac Cycle
describe the cardiac cycle, with reference to the action of the valves in the heart;
describe how heart action is coordinated with reference to the sinoatrial node (SAN), the atrioventricular node (AVN) and the Purkyne tissue;

2. Control of the Cardiac Cycle
describe the cardiac cycle, with reference to the action of the valves in the heart;
describe how heart action is coordinated with reference to the sinoatrial node (SAN), the atrioventricular node (AVN) and the Purkyne tissue;

3. The Need for Co-ordination
Heart (cardiac) muscle is unusual as it can initiate it’s own contraction
This is known as myogenic
The muscles can contract and relax rythmically even if it’s not connected to the body
The muscles of the atria and ventricles have their own natural frequency of contraction- the atrial muscle has a higher frequency (number of contractions) than the ventricular muscle
The property of the muscle could cause inefficient pumping (fibrillation) if the contractions are not synchronised- so the heart needs a mechanism for control

5. The Need for Co-ordination
At the top of the right atrium, near the point where the vena cava empties blood into the atrium, is the sino-atrial node (SAN) also known as the pacemaker
This is a small patch of tissue that generates electrical activity
The SAN initiates an excitation wave about times a minute
Use p70 to summarise the role of the SAN and AVN

6. Contraction of the Atria
The wave of excitation quickly spreads over the walls of both atria
It travels along the membranes of the muscle tissue and causes the cardiac muscles to contract
This is Atrial Systole

7. Contraction of the Atria
At the base of the atria is a disc of tissue that cannot conduct the excitation wave (electrical wave)
This means the wave cannot spread directly to the ventricles
At the top of the inter ventricular septum (separating the two ventricles) is another node- the atrio-ventricular node (or AVN) position 2 on the diagram
This is the only route through the disc of non-conducting tissue
The wave of excitation is delayed in the node, this allows time for the atria to finish contracting and for the blood to flow down into the ventricles before they contract
1 = SAN (pacemaker)
2 = AVN

8. Contraction of the Ventricles
After the delay the wave of excitation is carried away from the AVN and down specialised conducting tissue called the Purkyne tissue which runs down the inter ventricular septum (position 3 on diagram)
At the base of the septum the excitation wave spreads out over the walls of the ventricles
As it spreads upwards from the base of the ventricles, it causes the muscles to contract
This means that that ventricles contract from the base upwards, pushing blood up to the major arteries – the aorta and the pulmonary artery
3 = Bundle of His
4 & 5 = Purkyne Tissue

10. ElectroCardiograms P shows the excitation of the atria
We can monitor the electrical activity of the heart using an electrocardiogram or ECG
Sensors must be attached to the skin which pick up the electrical signals from the heart
The trace of a healthy person has a particular shape consisting of waves labelled P, Q, R, S and T
P shows the excitation of the atria
QRS indicates excitation of the ventricles
T shows diastole (relaxing)

11. 11

12. The Shape of an ECG
The shape of the ECG trace can sometimes be used to show which part of the heart is unhealthy
It can show irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) if it is in fibrillation (the beat is not co-ordinated), if it has suffered a heart attack (myocardial infarction)
It can also indicate if the heart is enlarged or if the Purkyne system is not conducting electrical activity properly
A heart block is when there is a problem with the electrical signals in the heart

13. Now try SAQ 6 on p71

15. 20 boxes
In 1 second, 25 boxes travel past the machine
One box travels at 1 second/25 boxes = 0.04 seconds per box
One heart beat lasts for approximately 20 boxes
20 boxes x 0.04 seconds per box = 0.8 seconds for each heart beat
How many 0.8 seconds are in 1 minute?
60 seconds / 0.8 seconds = 75 beats per minute

17. b (i) This is the time during which the ventricles are contracting
B (ii) In 1 second, 25 boxes travel past the machine
One box travels at 1 second/25 boxes = 0.04 seconds per box
Contraction time (Q-T) lasts for approximately 7 boxes
7 boxes x 0.04 seconds per box = 0.28 seconds for each contraction time

19. b (i) This is the time during which the ventricles are relaxed and filling with blood
B (ii) In 1 second, 25 boxes travel past the machine
One box travels at 1 second/25 boxes = 0.04 seconds per box
Contraction time (T-Q) lasts for approximately 13 boxes
13 boxes x 0.04 seconds per box = 0.52 seconds for each filling time