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Ch. 18 The Cardiovascular System: The Heart
All textbooksMarieb, Hoehn 7th EditionCh. 18 The Cardiovascular System: The HeartProblem 4
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Chapter 17, Problem 4

The sequence of contraction of the heart chambers is a. random, b. left chambers followed by right chambers, c. both atria followed by both ventricles, d. right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle.

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1
Understand the basic anatomy of the heart, which consists of four chambers: two atria (right and left) and two ventricles (right and left).
Recall the cardiac cycle, which involves the sequence of events that occur when the heart beats.
Identify that the heart's contraction sequence is crucial for efficient blood flow: it ensures that blood is moved from the atria to the ventricles and then out to the lungs and the rest of the body.
Recognize that the atria contract first to push blood into the ventricles, followed by the contraction of the ventricles to propel blood out of the heart.
Conclude that the correct sequence of contraction is both atria contracting simultaneously, followed by both ventricles contracting simultaneously.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Cardiac Cycle

The cardiac cycle refers to the sequence of events that occur during one complete heartbeat, including the contraction and relaxation of the heart chambers. It consists of two main phases: systole, when the heart muscles contract to pump blood, and diastole, when the heart relaxes and fills with blood. Understanding this cycle is crucial for comprehending how the heart functions and the order of chamber contractions.
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Atrial and Ventricular Contraction

Atrial contraction occurs first, followed by ventricular contraction, which is essential for effective blood flow. The atria contract to push blood into the ventricles, and then the ventricles contract to send blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. This coordinated contraction ensures that blood is efficiently moved through the heart and circulatory system.
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Electrical Conduction System of the Heart

The heart's electrical conduction system controls the timing of contractions through specialized cells that generate and transmit electrical impulses. The sinoatrial (SA) node initiates the heartbeat, causing the atria to contract, followed by the atrioventricular (AV) node, which triggers ventricular contraction. This system ensures that the heart chambers contract in a specific sequence, maintaining effective blood circulation.
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Electrical Conduction System of the Heart Example 2
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Textbook Question
When the semilunar valves are open, which of the following are occurring? (1) coronary arteries fill (2) AV valves are closed (3) ventricles are in systole (4) ventricles are in diastole (5) blood enters aorta (6) blood enters pulmonary arteries (7) atria contract a. 2, 3, 5, 6, b. 1, 2, 3, 7, c. 1, 3, 5, 6, d. 2, 4, 5, 7.
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Textbook Question
The portion of the intrinsic conduction system located in the superior interventricular septum is the a. AV node, b. SA node, c. AV bundle, d. subendocardial conducting network.
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An ECG provides information about a. cardiac output, b. movement of the excitation wave across the heart, c. coronary circulation, d. valve impairment.
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Textbook Question
The fact that the left ventricular wall is thicker than the right reveals that it a. pumps a greater volume of blood, b. pumps blood against greater resistance, c. expands the thoracic cage, d. pumps blood through a smaller valve.
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Textbook Question
The chordae tendineae a. the atrioventricular valves, b. prevent the AV valve flaps from everting, c. contract the papillary muscles, d. open the semilunar valves.
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Textbook Question
In the heart, which of the following apply? (1) Action potentials are conducted from cell to cell across the myocardium via gap junctions, (2) the SA node sets the pace for the heart as a whole, (3) spontaneous depolarization of cardiac cells can occur in the absence of nerve stimulation, (4) cardiac muscle can continue to contract for long periods in the absence of oxygen. a. all of the above, b. 1, 3, 4, c. 1, 2, 3, d. 2, 3.
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