A group of specialised muscle cells that’s reached by the pacemaker’s impulses and causes the ventricles to contract, pushing blood out of the heart (ventricular systole).
Where is the A.V node situated?
Located at the bottom of the right atrium near the septum.
What is it that spreads from the A.V node out across the heart?
Long muscle fibres that run from the A.V node down either side of the septum and spread out across the ventricle walls.
What does the Atrioventricular node cause?
Causes the ventricles to contract, pushing blood out of the heart (ventricular systole).
What is the Pulse?
The rhythmic expansion and contraction of the walls of the arteries as blood is forced through them.
Where can the pulse be easily detected ?
A pulse can be easily detected ever an artery is close to the surface of the skin or passing over a bone (eg. wrist, temple, neck).
What is blood pressure?
The force the blood exerts against the wall of a blood vessel.
What measures blood pressure?
Measured by a sphygmomanometer.
Where is blood pressure highest?
Blood pressure is highest in the arteries (causing them to expand -pulse).
Where is blood pressure lowest?
Blood pressure is lowest in the veins.
What is the region of highest blood pressure?
Where blood is forced into the aorta by the contraction of the left ventricle (systolic pressure).
What is systolic pressure?
Where blood is forced into the aorta by the contraction of the left ventricle.