Sunday, January 8, 2012

The Heart Beat Explained

The Heartbeat Explained. (Left to Right) Often times, we see this picture above in a much more colored and “cool” layout. But have we ever thought about what it really means? Yes, the waves are the heartbeats, but what exactly does every little hill and bump stand for? There’s a reason why the onomatopoeia for the heart should be ba-dump, ba-dump instead of thump, thump (or somewhere along those lines). Hopefully, this will explain why the sound should be seen as two syllables instead of one. When blood enters the both atria via the superior and inferior Vena Cava and the Pulmanary Veins, blood is able to flow into the atria because it is in a relaxed state, also known as Atrial Diastolye. As of this time since there is also no blood in the ventricle, it is also relaxed and called Ventricular Diastolye. This state of relaxation in the right atrium and ventricle is the first flat line. The first little hill is known as the P-Wave and that bump is due to the contraction (systole) of the atria. This contraction causes blood, that was originally in the atria, to flow into the ventricles. At this moment, the right ventricle is still relaxed which enables the blood to flow into it. Overall, this is called Atrial Aystolye and Ventricular Diastole. This wave is the first syllable of the heartbeat: ba-dump. The next segment is another flat line. This represents a slight pause or a delay in the pacemaker’s signal by the AV Node. Why is the signal delayed? The command to contract originates and is controlled by the pacemaker. If that signal is spread through the whole heart, all four chambers will contract simultaneously, resulting in no movement of blood. By delaying the signal, the atria can contract to ensure blood flow. After that contraction, the ventricles then receive the contraction signal. This delay is the reason for the “two syllable” heartbeat. The next big spike is called the QRS Wave and is mainly due to Ventricular Systole. Why is the wave greater than the rest? It’s size is primarily due to the left ventricle’s contraction. The wave is pretty grand compared to the other waves because of the power and strength of the left ventricle’s contraction. It has to be strong enough to pump all of the blood to the rest of our body. Of course, the right ventricle contracts as well, but it is not as powerful since it only pumps un-oxygenated blood to the lungs. In addition, the atria relax simultaneously while the ventricles contract. This Atrial Systole is called the M-Wave. However, it cannot be seen because it is hidden by the left ventricle’s contraction. Although it is masked by the contraction and the M-Wave cannot be seen, it does not mean that it does not happen. The QRS Wave is the reason for the second syllable of the heartbeat: Ba-Dump. The last little hill is called the T-Wave, due to Ventricular Diastole. Now that the ventricles have pumped out its blood, they can now relax, allowing the heart to be ready to start its contraction cycle once again. -This Cardiac Cycle all takes place in a matter of .8 seconds. Fascinating, isn’t it? In a quick little summary, the heartbeat should be seen as two syllables because of the two different contractions of the atria and the ventricles. If the beat would be one syllable, that would be a problem for our circulatory system.


The Heartbeat Explained. (Left to Right)
Often times, we see this picture above in a much more colored and “cool” layout. But have we ever thought about what it really means? Yes, the waves are the heartbeats, but what exactly does every little hill and bump stand for? There’s a reason why the onomatopoeia for the heart should be ba-dump, ba-dump instead of thump, thump (or somewhere along those lines). Hopefully, this will explain why the sound should be seen as two syllables instead of one.
When blood enters the both atria via the superior and inferior Vena Cava and the Pulmanary Veins, blood is able to flow into the atria because it is in a relaxed state, also known as Atrial Diastolye. As of this time since there is also no blood in the ventricle, it is also relaxed and called Ventricular Diastolye. This state of relaxation in the right atrium and ventricle is the first flat line.
The first little hill is known as the P-Wave and that bump is due to the contraction (systole) of the atria. This contraction causes blood, that was originally in the atria, to flow into the ventricles. At this moment, the right ventricle is still relaxed which enables the blood to flow into it. Overall, this is called Atrial Aystolye and Ventricular Diastole. This wave is the first syllable of the heartbeat: ba-dump.
The next segment is another flat line. This represents a slight pause or a delay in the pacemaker’s signal by the AV Node. Why is the signal delayed? The command to contract originates and is controlled by the pacemaker. If that signal is spread through the whole heart, all four chambers will contract simultaneously, resulting in no movement of blood. By delaying the signal, the atria can contract to ensure blood flow. After that contraction, the ventricles then receive the contraction signal. This delay is the reason for the “two syllable” heartbeat.
The next big spike is called the QRS Wave and is mainly due to Ventricular Systole. Why is the wave greater than the rest? It’s size is primarily due to the left ventricle’s contraction. The wave is pretty grand compared to the other waves because of the power and strength of the left ventricle’s contraction. It has to be strong enough to pump all of the blood to the rest of our body. Of course, the right ventricle contracts as well, but it is not as powerful since it only pumps un-oxygenated blood to the lungs. In addition, the atria relax simultaneously while the ventricles contract. This Atrial Systole is called the M-Wave. However, it cannot be seen because it is hidden by the left ventricle’s contraction. Although it is masked by the contraction and the M-Wave cannot be seen, it does not mean that it does not happen. The QRS Wave is the reason for the second syllable of the heartbeat: Ba-Dump.
The last little hill is called the T-Wave, due to Ventricular Diastole. Now that the ventricles have pumped out its blood, they can now relax, allowing the heart to be ready to start its contraction cycle once again.
-This Cardiac Cycle all takes place in a matter of .8 seconds. Fascinating, isn’t it? In a quick little summary, the heartbeat should be seen as two syllables because of the two different contractions of the atria and the ventricles. If the beat would be one syllable, that would be a problem for our circulatory system.

-Nicole Acnam
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)