Al-Ittihad School / International Programme

Scholastic Year 2020-2021

First Semester
Biology

Name: Date:

Grade: 11 AS Worksheet no.10: Cardiac cycle and Atherosclerosis

Cardiac cycle

Cardiac muscle is relaxed (diastole), blood drains into the left atrium from lungs along
the pulmonary vein. à Raising of the blood pressure in the left atrium forces the left
atrioventricular (AV) valve open. à Contraction (left atrial systole) of the left atrial
muscle forces more blood through the valve à as soon as left atrial systole is over, the
left ventricular muscles start to contract (left ventricular systole). à This forces the left
AV valve closed and opens the semilunar valve in the mouth of the aorta à blood then
leaves the left ventricle along the aorta.

These steps take place in the left side of the heart. They are repeated at the same time in
the right side.

Cardiac cycle and pressure changes

1
Events in the graph:

• From 0 s to 0.05 s, pressure increases due to atrial systole

• Afterwards, ventricle fills with blood from the atrium due to atrial systole
• After the end of atrial systole (0.05s to 1 s), there is a small fall in ventricular
pressure
• From 0.1 s to 0.32 s, ventricular pressure increases due to ventricular systole
• From 0.32s ventricular pressure decreases due to ventricular diastole
• Cardiac cycle ends at 0.45 s, and a new one starts

Atrioventricular valves

Atrial systole Open

Ventricular systole Closed
Atrial diastole Closed
Ventricular diastole Open

Semilunar valves
Atrial systole Closed
Ventricular systole Open
Ventricular diastole Closed

2
Oxidative Stress
In the arteries, some substances are responsible for maintaining the internal structure of
an artery and preventing platelet accumulation/ aggregation.
Free radicals are reactive oxygen-containing species (Reactive Oxygen Species, ROS)
with uneven number of electrons. Free radicals can attack biochemical compounds in the
body.
If free radicals attack substances responsible for maintaining the internal structure of an
artery (vasodilator), this may lead to endothelial dysfunction. This may happen due to
either:

• increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)

• decreased production of substances to maintain internal structure of an artery

These may lead to build-up of oxidative stress (an imbalance between ROS and
antioxidants).

Oxidative stress is involved endothelial dysfunction and may lead to atherosclerosis.

Free radicals may also oxidize LDL, and this may lead to oxidative stress.

Endothelial dysfunction:
Free radicals à oxidize components inside the body à oxidative stress à
endothelial DYSFUNCTION

Atherosclerosis
1. Endothelial damage and dysfunction
2. Inflammatory response
3. Accumulation of white blood cells in damaged area
4. Build-up of cholesterol in damaged area
5. Build-up of calcium/ fibrous tissue / fibrin / platelets
6. Formation of atheroma / plaque / high risk of blood clotting formation
7. Loss of elasticity of artery / narrowing of the lumen
8. Blood pressure rises
9. This process is self-perpetuating / positive feedback

Health effects of atheroma

• Increased blood pressure (hypertension) which can damage the kidneys and the
retina and cause strokes
• Aneurysm: where the increased pressure of blood caused by the blockage can
lead to the bursting of an artery and internal bleeding.
• Angina: a chest pain often felt during exercise, caused by reduced blood flow to
heart due to narrowing of coronary arteries
• Heart attack: when a coronary artery becomes totally blocked, usually by a clot,
and part of the heart is starved of oxygen and dies
• Stroke: an interruption to the blood supply of the brain which can cause paralysis
or even death.