Tag: heart beat

Cardiac output is the blood volume pumped in a minute by the core. It is equivalent to the rate of heart multiplied by the quantity of the stroke. So if there are 70 beats per minute and with each heart beat 70 ml of blood is drawn, the power production is 4900 ml / minute. This value is typical of an average resting adult, although during intense practice, cardiac production can achieve up to 30 liters / minute.

The first heart sound which we hear is produced by the simultaneous closure of both the atrioventricular valves namely, the bicuspid (mitral) valve and the tricuspid valve.

Cardiac output is the blood volume pumped in a minute by the core. It is equivalent to the rate of heart multiplied by the quantity of the stroke. So if there are 70 beats per minute and with each heart beat 70 ml of blood is drawn, the power production is 4900 ml / minute. This value is typical of an average resting adult, although during intense practice, cardiac output can reach  upto 30 liters / minute.

A special neural centre in the medulla oblangata can moderate the cardiac function through autonomic nervous system (ANS). Neural signals through the sympathetic nerves (part of ANS) can increase the rate of heart beat, the strength of ventricular contraction and thereby the cardiac output. On the other hand, parasympathetic neural signals (another component of ANS) decrease the rate of heart beat, speed of conduction of action potential and thereby the cardiac output. Adrenal medullary hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline) can also increase the cardiac output.

Normal activities of the heart are regulated intrinsically, i.e., auto regulated by specialised muscles (nodal tissue), hence, the heart is called myogenic. A special neural centre in the medulla oblangata can moderate the cardiac function through autonomic nervous system (ANS). Neural signals through the sympathetic nerves (part of ANS) can increase the rate of heart beat, the strength of ventricular contraction and thereby the cardiac output. On the other hand, parasympathetic neural signals (another component of ANS) decrease the rate of heart beat, speed of conduction of action potential and thereby the cardiac output. Adrenal medullary hormones can also increase the cardiac output. Epinephrine / adrenaline increases the heart rate.

Sino-atrial node (SAN) generates the maximum number of action potentials per minute (70-75/min) and therefore, it sets the pace of the activities of the heart. Hence, it is called as the cardiac pacemaker.

During each cardiac cycle two prominent sounds are produced, which can be easily heard through a stethoscope. The first heart sound (lubb) is associated with the closure of the tricuspid and bicuspid valves, whereas the second heart sound (dubb/dupp) is associated with the closure of the semilunar valves. 

The sino-atrial node (SAN) can generate the maximum number of action potentials, i.e., 70-75 /min. It is responsible for initiating and maintaining the rhythmic contractile activity of the heart. Therefore, it is called as the natural cardiac pacemaker.