Cardiovascular Question

Question

The heart has its own electrical impulses that self-originate so that the heart can beat despite an absence of other input (heart tissue grown in a dish will spontaneously beat on its own!). Describe the pathway of these electrical impulses through the heart that makes it beat in a coordinated fashion. List three things that can influence the heart rate and briefly explain how they influence heart rate.

Answer 1

You can find the answer to this question in your textbook, notes, PowerPoint slides or online. You will need to look for an illustration of the electrical system in the heart. There are pathways between the atria, and between the atria and the ventricles. You should identify which site is the primary pacemaker, and which direction electrical impulses travel through the heart. The things that influence heart rate are numerous. Be aware that pulse, though not exactly the same as heart rate, is a reflection of heart rate. anything that increases your pulse increases your heart rate, in other words, the number of times your heart beats per minute. Think about it, or look it up.