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The cardiac cycle
A cardiac cycle refers to the sequence of events that happens in the heart from the start of one heartbeat to the start of the subsequent heartbeat. During a cardiac cycle the atria and the ventricles work separately. The sinoatrial node (pacemaker) is located in the right atrium and regulates the contraction and relaxing of the atria.
- At rest, each heartbeat takes approximately 0,80,8 seconds.
- The normal heart rate at rest is approximately 7272 beats per minute.
- During systolethe heart muscle contracts.
- During diastolethe heart muscle relaxes.
The phases of the cardiac cycle will be broken down and explained in the following section:
Phase 1: Atrial systole (Atrium contracts)
- Blood from the superior and inferior vena cava flows into the right atrium.
- Blood from the pulmonary veins flows into the left atrium.
- The atria contract at the same time.
- This contraction lasts for about 0,10,1 seconds.
- Blood is forced through the tricuspid and bicuspid valves into the ventricles.
Phase 2: Ventricular systole (Ventricle contracts)
- Ventricles relax and fill with blood.
- The ventricles contract for 0,30,3 seconds.
- Blood is forced upwards, closing the bicuspid and tricuspid valves (lubb sound).
- The blood travels up into the pulmonary artery (on the right) and the aorta (on the left).
- The atria are relaxed during ventricular systole.
Phase 3: General diastole: (General relaxation of the heart)
- The ventricles relax, thus decreasing the flow from the ventricles.
- Once there is no pressure the blood flow closes the semi-lunar valves in the aorta and the pulmonary artery (dubb sound).
- General diastole lasts for about 0,40,4 seconds.
The heart makes two beating sounds. One is loud and one is soft. We call this the lubb dubb sound. The lubb sound is caused by the pressure of the ventricles contracting, forcing the atrioventricular valves shut. The dubb sound is caused by the lack of pressure in the ventricles which causes the blood to flow back and close the semi-lunar valves in the pulmonary artery and aorta. A doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the heartbeats. Alternatively, a person’s pulse can be measured by pressing a finger (other than the thumb which already has a pulse) against the brachial artery in the wrist or the carotid artery next to the trachea. The pulse of the heart allows us to measure the heart rate which is the number of heartbeats per unit time.
Mechanisms for controlling cardiac cycle and heart rate (pulse)
The cardiac cycle is controlled by nerve fibres extending from nodes of nerve bundles through the heart muscle. There are two nodes, namely the sinoatrial node (SA node) and the atrioventricular node (AV node). The SA node is located within the wall of the right atrium while the AV node is located between the atria and the ventricles. Electrical impulses generated in the SA node cause the right and left atria to contract first, initiating the cardiac cycle. The electrical signal reaches the AV node, where the signal pauses, before spreading through conductive tissues called the bundles of His and Purkinje fibres. These fibres branch into pathways which supply the right and left ventricles, causing the ventricles to contract. The SA node is the pacemaker of the heart since electrical signals are normally generated there – without any stimulation from the nervous system (automaticity). However, although the heart rate is automatic, it changes during exercise or when experiencing intense emotions like fear, anger and excitement. This is as a result of added stimulation from the nervous system and hormones, such as adrenaline.
Electrical activity
The electrical activity in the heart is so strong that it can be measured from the surface of the body as an electrocardiogram (ECG). A normal heart has a very regular rhythm. Arrhythmia is a condition where the heart has an abnormal rhythm, as shown in the figures. Tachycardia is when the resting heart rate is too fast (more than 100100 beats per minute), and bradycardia is when the heart rate is too slow (less than 6060 beats per minute).
Figure 7.8: Electrocardiogram depicting different heart rhythms.
Stroke Volume
The stroke volume is the amount of blood pumped through the heart during each cardiac cycle. The stroke volume can change depending on the needs of the body. During exercise, muscles need more oxygen and glucose in order to produce energy in the form of ATP. Therefore the heart increases its stroke volume and stroke rate to meet this demand. This is a temporary change to maintain homeostasis, and after exercise the heart rate and stroke volume return to normal.
When a person exercises regularly, and is fit, the heart undergoes certain long-term adaptations. The heart muscle gets stronger, and expels more blood with each contraction. There is therefore a greater stroke volume with each heartbeat. Since the heart expels more blood with each stroke, the heart has to beat less often in order to maintain the same volume of blood flow. Therefore, fit people often have lower resting heart rates. Cardiac output is the volume of blood that is pumped by the heart in one-minute. Cardiac output is equal to the stroke volume (SV) multiplied by the heart rate (HR)
.Blood Pressure
Blood pressure refers to the force that the blood exerts on the blood vessel walls. Blood pressure is determined by the size of the blood vessels and ensures that blood flows to all the parts of the body. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 (120 over 80) measured in units of mercury (mm Hg). The 120 represents the systolic pressure, which is when the ventricles contract. The 80 represents the diastolic pressure, which is when general diastole occurs.
Blood pressure can be increased by smoking, stress, adrenalin surges, water retention, high cholesterol, obesity and lack of exercise. High blood pressure (hypertension) is dangerous and increases the risk of an aneurysm, stroke or heart attack. Low blood pressure (hypotension) can lead to light-headedness and fainting because of insufficient blood supply to the brain.