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TOPIC NOTES KEY FACTS QUESTIONS & EXERCISES

You really should know
everything in this section
before you sit the exam
heart cycle
CIRCULATION gaseous transport
Heart T. Fluid Cycle
CONTROL OF
Q1
BREATHING
ENERGY &
summary diag. Q1 Anaerobic
EXERCISE
TRANSPORT IN
Q1 Q2
PLANTS
Word version
ALL of notes

Heart Cycle control

The pacemaker is the Sinoatrial node (SAN) which is responsible for the intrinsic
heartbeat. Impulses originate from the SAN which causes atria to contract
because the cardiac muscle transmits the impulse as it contracts. There is a
slight delay of the impulse at the Atrioventricular node (AVN) to ensure that atrial
contraction is complete before the ventricles contracts. The impulse passes to
the ventricles via specially conductive fibres called Purkinje fibres which are
grouped into the bundle of His in the septum and cause the rapid transmission of
the impulse to the apex of the heart. From here the impulse spreads through the
ventricles, causing them to contract from the apex upwards.
The cardiovascular centre in medulla modifies heartbeat. Chemoreceptors in the
aortic arch, carotid body and medulla detect [CO2], [O2] and pH. Impulses are
sent from these receptors to the cardiovascular centre in the medulla. Depending
on the input from these receptors either:
Impulses are sent along sympathetic nerves to stimulate the SAN and increase
cardiac output
OR
Impulses are sent along parasympathetic nerves (vagus nerves) to inhibit the
SAN and decrease cardiac output
 Transport of Gases by blood

CO2 Transport:

• CO2 diffuses into blood (in solution);some carried in solution as CO2

(about 7%);
• CO2 diffuses along conc gradient into red cells;
• where carbonic anhydrase is present which converts CO2 to carbonic acid
• which dissasociates into hydrogencarbonate ions and H+
• hydrogencarbonate diffuses out into blood plasma;
• this major form of CO2 carried (about 86%);
• buffering by haemoglobin (of H+)
• in lungs reactions reversed (due to changes in conc gradients);
• CO2 diffuses out into alveoli (along conc gradient);

O2 Transport

Lung

• High partial pressure of oxygen in the lungs

• haemoglobin in lung capillaries has high affinity for oxygen;
• therefore becomes saturated with oxygen (Haemoglobin combining with
oxygen to give oxyhaemoglobin)

Muscle

• ODC curve shifted to right in muscle (Bohr effect)

• because of high carbon dioxide concentration/low pH and higher
temperature;
• haemoglobin in muscle therefore has low affinity for oxygen;
• therefore oxyhaemoglobin dissociates/’gives up’ oxygen readily;
• therefore more oxygen available for muscle cells;

• Diffusion of oxygen into blood/tissues;

SUMMARY OF AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC PATHWAYS OF ATP

SYNTHESIS