International A Level Biology / Muscles, movement and the heart

Controlling heart rate: the cardiovascular control centre

Edexcel International A Level Biology (YBI11), chapter 21: Muscles, movement and the heart, specification point 7.13, 7.14. Part of the full course.

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The cardiovascular control centre changes heart rate using information from receptors and impulses along two opposing nerves. Adrenaline also prepares the body for action by increasing cardiac output and directing more oxygen and glucose to muscles.

More lessons in Muscles, movement and the heart

• How muscles, tendons, ligaments and the skeleton produce movement
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• The myogenic heartbeat: SAN, AVN, bundle of His
• Reading ECGs
• Negative and positive feedback
• Cardiac output
• Controlling breathing: the ventilation centre
• Core practical 17: spirometer traces and exercise