Understandings:
- Structure of cardiac muscle cells allows propagation of stimuli through the heart wall.
- Signals from the sinoatrial node that cause contraction cannot pass directly from atria to ventricles.
- There is a delay between the arrival and passing on of a stimulus at the atrioventricular node.
- This delay allows time for atrial systole before the atrioventricular valves close.
- Conducting fibres ensure coordinated contraction of the entire ventricle wall.
- Normal heart sounds are caused by the atrioventricular valves and semilunar valves closing causing changes in blood flow.
Applications and skills:
- Application: Use of artificial pacemakers to regulate the heart rate.
- Application: Use of defibrillation to treat life-threatening cardiac conditions.
- Application: Causes and consequences of hypertension and thrombosis.
- Skill: Measurement and interpretation of the heart rate under different conditions.
- Skill: Interpretation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements.
- Skill: Mapping of the cardiac cycle to a normal ECG trace.
- Skill: Analysis of epidemiological data relating to the incidence of coronary heart disease
. Guidance:
- Include branching and intercalated discs in structure of cardiac muscle.
|
Theory of knowledge:
- Symbols are used as a form of non-verbal communication. Why is the heart used as a symbol for love? What is the importance of symbols in different areas of knowledge?
|
