Applied Science AQA/The Heart

Setting Applied context
Those working in cardiac sciences diagnose and monitor diseases that affect the structure and function of the heart, carry out exercise stress testing to determine whether the blood vessels supplying the heart are working properly, and programme pacemaker devices to ensure that they function correctly.

Exploration of key ideas (must be original text, not C&P) – level checked by AQA
In general, point students towards the approach to take, as opposed to just giving them information.

Structures of the heart: Bicuspid valve: this is a form of heart disease where parts of the aortic valve fuse in the womb to form a 2 leaflet valve instead of a 3 leaflet valve.

Tricuspid valve: this is also known as the right atrioventricular valve and is function is to stop the back flow of blood into the right atrium.

mitral valve: this valve controls the flow of blood from the left atrium to the left ventricle.

sinoatrial node: this is the part of the heart which controls the hearts pace. It does this by generating electrical impulses.

atrioventricular node: this is the part of the heart which controls its rate. It does this by controlling the electrical impulses generated by the SA node. It slows down these impulses so that there is a delay between the ventricles and the atrium. It does this to make sure that the ventricles have enough time to fully contract to make sure that all of the blood can be pumped out of the heart.

purkinje fibers: these fibers conduct the signals sent by the AV node and send them across both ventricles simultaneously causing them to contract.

bundle of his:



cardiac simulation
explanation 3

controlling heart rate
chemoreceptors

baroreceptors

artificial pacemakers

Study Task
Work to do to understand this topic e.g. research, analysis

Careers and Organisations
Carry out some research into these jobs in this area. (Feel free to add other jobs you find.)

Relevant practical/s
– relating to criteria skills

Quick questions

 * 1) what is the function of the AV node?
 * 2) what is the name of the bottom chambers of the heart?
 * 3) what is bicuspid valve?



Exam-style questions
– can we use old AQA qs… e.g. from more than 5 years ago? With Examiner comments

Links
to other sections within this book

to good external websites (including AQA website, wikipedia, relevant applications / companies) - also considering links in spec

References / Bibliography
of recommended text books

including mapped refs to existing books

Back to Contents