Heart rate, reflex, Receptors Flashcards
Myogenic Control of heart rate
Before this topic have a good understanding of the cardiac cycle.
Draw The heart and label the structures involved in the Myogenic control of heart rate?
- Sinoatrial node - in the wall of the right atrium
- AVN node in the middle of the ventricular system
- ventricular septum - prevents mixture of blood (oxy + deoxy)
what is the heart muscle known as?
Cardiac muscle
what is special about the cardiac muscle?
it is myogenic, so the contraction is initiated from the muscle itself. (it can contract on its own, without needing nerve impulses (stimulus))
what is neurogenic?
contraction is initiated by nervous impulses from the outside. (the cardiac muscle is NOT neurogenic)
what is the contraction in the heart initiated by?
the Sinoatrial node (SAN) (or pacemaker) in the wall of the right atrium
what does the sinoatrial node determine?
the beat of the heart
why is SAN referred to as a pacemaker?
it sets the rhythm of the heartbeat by sending out regular waves of electrical activity to the atrial walls
Describe the process on how a heartbeat is initiated and co-ordinated? - MSA
- A single heart beat begins when the Sinoatrial node (SAN) sends a wave of electrical impulses from the wall of the right atrium across both atria, causing them to contract
- A layer of Non-conductive tissue (atrioventricular septum) prevents the wave crossing to the ventricles
- the wave of electrical impulses are passed/picked up by/enter a second group of cells called the Atrioventricular node (AVN) which lies between the atria
- But the AVN delays the impulses to allow blood to leave the atria before ventricles can contract
- the AVN sends a wave of electrical impulses between the ventricles (middle of the ventricular septum) along a series of specialised cardiac muscle fibres called Purkyne fibres which make up the ‘Bundle Of His’
- the Bundle of His’ divides into right and left branches, which spreads to the walls of the base of the ventricles
- from here the signal spreads from the walls of the ventricles through the Purkyne fibres
- impulses from the purkyne fibres cause the ventricle muscles to contract from the base upwards.
when a wave of electrical activity reaches the AVN, there is a short delay before a new wave leaves the AVN. Explain the importance of this Short delay? - MSA
- Allows atria to empty and ventricles to fill
- before ventricles contract
OR - Delays contraction of ventricles
- until after atria has contracted/ ventricles have filled.
Nervous control of heart rate
What is the rate of the heart rate controlled by?
The nervous system
Which main nervous system does the control of heart rate involve, and what are the two sub divisions of this system?
- Autonomic system consists of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system
What is the Autonomic system?
the autonomic system controls the involuntary (subconscious) activities of internal muscles and glands
What is the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system?
Sympathetic NS - this stimulates effectors and so speeds up any activity. it helps us cope wit stressful situations by heightening our awareness and preparing us for activity/ potential danger (fight or flight)
Parasympathetic NS -This inhibits effectors and so slows down any activity. it controls activities under normal resting conditions. it is concerned with conserving energy and replenishing the body’s reserves. Rest and digest response.
The actions of both the parasympathetic and Sympathetic nervous systems are..?
Antagonistic - if one system contracts, the other relaxes (therefore control of heart rate)
When does the heart rate need to be altered to meet varying demands for oxygen?
During exercise, the resting heart rate may need more than double
Which region of the brain Co-ordinates/controls the heart rate?
The Medulla (oblongata)
What are the two centres associated with the Medulla Oblongata?
- A centre that increases the heart rate, which is linked to the SAN by the sympathetic nervous system (Cardiovascular centre)
- A centre that decreases the heart rate, which is linked to the SAN by the parasympathetic nervous system (Cardiovascular centre)
Reflex And Nervous control of heart rate
What is the rate of the heart beat affected by?
Although the beating of the heart is myogenic, the rate at which is beats can be affected by stimuli and increased or decreased in response
Which part of the Nervous system does this involve?
Autonomic system (involuntary system)
What is an external stimuli, which affects the heart rate?
Response to potential danger - Fight or flight
What hormone is released during flight or flight?
Adrenaline
Explain how Adrenaline affects the heart rate?
- Released in the blood it stimulates SAN to increase electrical impulses (and strength of contractions).
- SO INCREASES HEART RATE
What two examples of Internal stimuli affect the heart rate?
1) Changes in pH of blood
2) Changes in blood pressure
What lowers the pH of the blood, and increasing heart rate does what?
- High rate of respiration leads to high
CO2 in the blood (Lowers pH). - Increasing heart rate increases the removal of CO2 and the supply of O2 to the tissues
What is a reflex?
Involuntary response to a sensory stimulus is a REFLEX
What is a reflex arc?
The pathway of neurones involved in a reflex is a REFLEX ARC
What are the three neurones involved in a reflex arc?
- sensory neurone
- Relay neurone
- Motor neurone
Describe how a reflex arc is carried out, when a person touches a hot object?
- stimulus - heat from the hot object
- receptor - temperature receptors (Thermoreceptors) in the skin, generates nerve impulses in the sensory neurone
- sensory neurone - passes nerve impulse to spinal cord
- relay neurone - this is the co-ordinator and links the sensory neurone to motor neurone
- motor neurone - carries nerve impulses from the spinal cord to a muscle in the upper arm
- effector - the muscle in the arm is stimulated to contract
- Response - pulling the hand away from the object
What is the importance of reflex arc’s?
- Protect body from harmful stimuli e.g. Help escape from predators
- Effective from birth- INNATE so no need to learn
- Fast, Immediate , due to short neurone pathway with few synapses (1 or 2). This is important for withdrawal reflexes
- Involuntary, and rapid do not require decision of the brain, so the brain is bale to carry out more complex responses. Brain is not overloaded
- Inflexible- always the same
- Protect against damage to body tissues;
- Enable homeostatic control.
Which are the two main receptors which work to maintain the heart rate?
- chemoreceptors and baroreceptors
Where is are Chemoreceptors found, and what is their role?
Chemoreceptors (in the aorta, carotid artery and medulla): sensitive to changes in pH of blood, due to carbon dioxide dissolving in the blood plasma to form Carbonic acid.
Describe how Chemoreceptors detect low blood pH and return the blood pH back to normal?
- when blood has a higher than normal concentration of carbon dioxide, the pH is lowered
- the chemoreceptors in the carotid artery and aorta detect this and increase the frequency of nervous impulses
- to the cardiovascular centre in the Medulla Oblongata
- This centre increases the frequency of impulses via the sympathetic nervous system which secrete Noradrenaline, which binds to receptors on the SAN
- This increases the rate of production of electrical impulses by the SAN and therefore increases the heart rate
- This increases blood flow, leads to more carbon dioxide being removed by the lungs, so Carbon dioxide concentration of the blood return to normal
Describe how Chemoreceptors detect a decrease in pH and return the pH of the blood back to normal?
- when blood has a lower than normal concentration of carbon dioxide, the pH is increased
- the chemoreceptors in the carotid artery and aorta detect this and increase the frequency of nervous impulses
- to the cardiovascular centre in the Medulla Oblongata
- This centre increases the frequency of impulses via the sympathetic nervous system which secrete Acetylcholine, which binds to receptors on the SAN
- This decreases the rate of production of electrical impulses by the SAN and therefore decreases the heart rate
Why is it important to control the pH of the blood?
to prevent enzymes from denaturing