COURSE CODE:BIO1201
Specification:
1.8: know the cardiac cycle (atrial systole, ventricular systole
and cardiac diastole) and relate the structure and operation of
the mammalian heart, including the major blood vessels, to its
function.
*Details of myogenic stimulation not needed at IAS.
Key Questions:
What is a single closed
circulatory system?
What is it double closed
circulatory system?
Why do mammals need a
circulatory system but unicellular
organisms don't?
Give an example of a double
circulatory system.
Name:
Class/Period:
Date:
Notes:
■ Single circulation is found in fish
■ The heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the gills
■ Here gaseous exchange takes place
■ There is diffusion of carbon dioxide from the blood into the water that surrounds
the gills, and diffusion of oxygen from this water into the blood
■ The blood leaving the gills then flows around the rest of the body before
returning to the heart
■ Blood flows through the heart once for each complete circuit of the body
■ Birds and mammals has a double circulatory system.
■ The right ventricle of the heart pumps deoxygenated blood (blood poor in
oxygen) to the lungs where it receives oxygen
■ The oxygenated blood (blood rich in oxygen) then returns to the heart to be
pumped a second time (by the left ventricle) out to the rest of the body
■ Blood flows through the heart twice for each complete circuit of the body
■ The heart gives the blood returning from the lungs an extra boost- which
reduces the time it takes for the blood to circulate around the whole body
■ This allows birds and mammals to have a high metabolic rate because oxygen
and food substances required for metabolic processes can be delivered more
rapidly to cells
1. mammals are living organisms which need to absorb nutrients and oxygen to release
waste products but unicellular organisms can do this at their surface without a
circulatory system
2. mammals have cells which are not exposed to the environment so the
nutrients/waste need to be transported via a circulatory system
■ Mammals have a double circulatory system.
■ The heart is divided down the middle by a septum.
■ The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen in the
pulmonary system.
■ From the lungs it travels to the left side of the heart where is pumped to the rest
of the body in the systemic system.
References:
 COURSE CODE:BIO1201

What is the advantage of the ■ Oxygenated and deoxygenated blood is separated so this maintains a high
mammalian double circulatory concentration gradient.
system? ■ Since the chambers are separated, it allows the left side to pump blood out of
the heart at a much higher pressure compared to the right side.

What is the structure of a human

heart?

Identifying Components of a Dissected Sheep Heart

References:

How to differentiate between the
left and right side of the heart?
What are the major components
of a heart?
The Left atria, left ventricle and
right ventricle all have different
thicknesses.
Why is the left ventricle wall
thickest?
What is the cardiac cycle?
What is phase 1 of the cardiac
cycle and what happens during
this phase?
COURSE CODE:BIO1201
■ The left ventricle pumps blood around the entire body and so has a noticeably
thicker myocardium than the right ventricle
The structure of the human heart includes the following key components:
Chambers
■ Two atria (singular = atrium) – smaller chambers near top of heart that collect
blood from body and lungs
■ Two ventricles – larger chambers near bottom of heart that pump blood to body
and lungs
Heart Valves
■ Atrioventricular valves (between atria and ventricles) – bicuspid valve on left
side ; tricuspid valve on right side
■ Semilunar valves (between ventricles and arteries) – aortic valve on left side ;
pulmonary valve on right side
Blood Vessels
■ Vena cava (inferior and superior) feeds into the right atrium and returns
deoxygenated blood from the body
■ Pulmonary artery connects to the right ventricle and sends deoxygenated blood
to the lungs
■ Pulmonary vein feeds into the left atrium and returns oxygenated blood from the
lungs
■ Aorta extends from the left ventricle and sends oxygenated blood around the
body
The left ventricles has thicker walls to pump blood out at higher pressure. This is
because it has to pump blood throughout the body which is a longer distance.
The right ventricles on the other hand pumps blood out at a lowered pressure because
it has to pump blood through the lungs which is a shorter distance
The cardiac cycle is the continuous contraction and relaxation of the heart.
It consists of the:-
■ Atrial systole
■ Ventricular systole
■ Diastole
■ During atrial systole, ventricles relax and atria contract, this decreases the
volume and increases the pressure in atria.
■ The difference in pressure open AV valves so blood is pushed into ventricles.
References:

What is phase 2 of the cardiac
cycle and what happens during
this phase?
What is phase 3 of the cardiac
cycle and what happens during
this phase?
Where does ventricular
contraction start?
What is the Coronary Artery?
Why are healthy coronary
arteries so important?
Summary
COURSE CODE:BIO1201
■ Atira relaxes and ventricles contract
■ This decrease the volume and increase the pressure in ventricles.
■ Higher pressure in ventricles compared to atria causes AV valves to close to
prevent backflow of blood into atria.
■ Ventricles also has higher pressure than aorta and Pulmonary Artery so Semi
lunar Valves open to push blood out.
■ During diastole, the heart relaxes.
■ High pressure in the pulmonary artery causes semi lunar valves to close to
prevent back flow into the ventricles.
■ Atria is being filled with blood so this increases the pressure of atria.
■ As pressure in atria is higher than ventricles, AV valves open to allow blood to
enter ventricles.
At the apex of the heart pushing blood towards the arteries, pulmonary and aorta. The
semi-lunar valves open due to rising pressure and push blood out of the heart. The
ventricles then relax in order to allow the heart to fill again.
Coronary Artery is the blood vessel on the surface of the heart that supplies the heart
with blood.
They help maintain a regular heart rhythm. Heart muscles need a good supply of
oxygen and glucose to contact with a regular rhythm. Healthy coronary arteries provide
this needed supple so it continues to beat.
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