Critical Thinking Questions
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS
- Describe how the valves keep the blood moving in one direction.
- Why is the pressure in the pulmonary circulation lower than in the systemic circulation?
- Why is the plateau phase so critical to cardiac muscle function?
- How does the delay of the impulse at the atrioventricular node contribute to cardiac function?
- How do gap junctions and intercalated disks aid contraction of the heart?
- Why do the cardiac muscles cells demonstrate autorhythmicity?
- Describe one cardiac cycle, beginning with both atria and ventricles relaxed.
- Why does increasing EDV increase contractility?
- Why is afterload important to cardiac function?