Heart rate

Objectives

1. Mention the normal range of heart rate

2. Explain variations of heart rate

3. Describe the regulation of heart rate

Normal heart rate ?
• Normal heart rate: 60- 100 beats per minutes
Nerve supply to the heart
• The nervous system controls circulation

through the autonomic nervous system

(ANS )
Nerve supply to the heart

• Sympathetic nerve fibers

• Parasympathetic nerve fibers (vagus)

• Sympathetic nerves - T1 –T6

• Para sympathetic (vagus ) stimulation

(originating from Nucleus ambigus)

 vagus

T1 –T6

Nerve supply to the heart

Vagus
• supplies mainly to the S-A and A-V nodes,
• to a lesser extent to the muscle of the two
atria, and very little directly to the
ventricular muscle.
sympathetic nerves
• are distributed to all parts of the heart,
• strong representation to the ventricular
muscle
• as well as to all the other areas.
 blood vessels
From heart To heart

Venules
Artery
Arterioles Vein
Nerve supply to the blood vessels

• Sympathetic nerves - L1, L2- arterioles –

vasoconstriction (norepinephrine)

• No Para sympathetic innervation- vasodilation

mediated by vasodilators like bradykinin (skin)

Sympathetic stimulation
Parasympathetic stimulation
Resting and Digesting
 Muscarinic VAGUS- postganglionic
parasympathetic nerve

(-) (-)
Acetylcholine Dromotropy
Chronotropy
HR Rate of
M transmission
receptor
in cardiac conductive
tissue
 ACh

K+ conductance

K+ efflux

hyperpolarization

(-) Chronotropy (-) Dromotropy

Effects of Parasympathetic discharge on heart

• Predominant

• Negative chronotropic effect (HR)

• negative dromotropic effect (conduction

velocity)

• Inhibition of sympathetic effect (via ACh)

Sympathetic stimulation
 postganglionic sympathetic nerves

(+) Norepinephrine
Chronotropy (+) Inotropy
HR Force of
β1 contraction
receptor

(+) Dromotropy
Rate of transmission in cardiac conductive tissue
 Nor
Epi

Na +, Ca ++ conductance

Na +, Ca ++ influx

more positive resting potential

(+) Chronotropy (+) Inotropy (+) Dromotropy

• Increase in heart rate- chronotropy

• Increase in rate of transmission in the

cardiac conductive tissue- dromotropy

• Increase in force of ventricular

contraction- inotropy
Effects of sympathetic discharge on heart

• Positive inotropic effect (FOC)

• Positive chronotropic effect (HR)

• Positive bathmotropic effect (Automaticity)

• Positive dromotropic effect (conduction velocity)

• Inhibition of parasympathetic effect (via

neuropeptide Y)
 Sympathetic stimulation

• Exercise

• Excitement

• Emergency

• Embarrassment
Fright Flight
Vagal tone
 postganglionic VAGUS- postganglionic
sympathetic nerves parasympathetic nerve

NE ACh

β1 M
receptors
Effects of sympathetic discharge on heart

• Positive inotropic effect (FOC)

• Positive chronotropic effect (HR)

• Positive bathmotropic effect (Automaticity)

• Positive dromotropic effect (conduction velocity)

• Inhibition of parasympathetic effect (via

neuropeptide Y)
Cardiovascular reflexes

• Baroreceptor reflex

• Bainbridge reflex

• Chemoreceptor reflex
 Increased discharge of baroreceptor
afferents

Vasomotor Nucleus ambiguus Respiratory

center center
Vagus
HR RR
BP

BP - HR
Cardiovascular reflexes

• Baroreceptor reflex

• Brainbridge reflex

• Chemoreceptor reflex
 variations
Tachycardia Bradycardia

• Sympathetic stimulation • Sleep

• Fever • Hypothyroidism

• Hyperthyroidism • Athletes
summary
• Sympathetic vs. parasympathetic

• Fright& flight vs. resting & digesting

• Norepinephrine vs.Ach

• Tachycardia vs. Bradycardia

• Vasoconstriction vs. vasodilation

• Baroreceptors vs. Chemoreceptors

 Sympathetic stimulation

Heart Blood vessels

Heart rate All parts Skeletal

muscle
Volume pumped

Vasoconstriction Vasodilation
 Regulation of HR

• Baroreceptors- BP  (+) CIC  HR

• Chemoreceptors

• Brain bridge reflex

• HORMONES- adrenaline, thyroxin

• Temperature