1.

What is the effect of blood vessel radius on blood flow, peripheral

resistance and pump rate (heart rate) Explain why?
Peripheral resistance (summation of resistance of all arteries in systemic
circulation) is mainly affected by the radius and pressure of blood vessels. An
increase of radius will decrease the resistance increase of blood flow. Increased
blood flow will lead to increased venous return to heart, thus causing stroke
volume increase. To maintain the same cardiac output, the heart rate has to
decrease. (since there is a limit to increased diastolic volume) CO=SVxHR

List and describe the compensatory mechanism for increased and

decreased blood flow.

Increased blood flow:

Decrease sympathetic nervous system induced vasoconstriction

Increased blood pressure activation of baroreceptor (mechanoreceptor)

parasympathetic nervous system influence on heart activity -decreased heart
rate and decreased stroke volume (contractility)
Decreased blood flow:
Increase sympathetic nervous system induced vasoconstriction

Decreased blood pressure inactivation of baroreceptor sympathetic nervous

system influence on heart activity increased heart rate and increased stroke
volume (contractility)

The effect of stroke volume on pump activity

What is the effect of increased end diastolic volume on stroke volume and
heart rate?

The heart is always looking to maintain same cardiac output (flow rate). Cardiac
output (ml/min) is determined by stroke volume (volume of ejected blood by left
ventricle) and heart rate. Cardiac output= SV * HR. SV is determined by end
systolic volume (volume left in heart after ejection) and EDV (SV=EDV-ESV).
CO=(EDV-ESV) * HR). An increase in EDV= increase SV and decrease in HR to
maintain cardiac output.
The increased EDV will increase the stretch of myocytes. Increase of stretch will
make myocytes reach a value closer to the optimal length of muscle units
(maximal cross bridges formation can occur) and the contractile force of heart
increases. More volume will be ejected. Increased EDV= increased SV
ESV= blood left in ventricle after ejection SV=EDV-ESV.
So: Increased EDV increased SV for CO to maintain the same, decrease the
heart rate.
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Explain Frank-Starling law

Changes preload (stretch of cells by volume of EDV), will influence the stroke
volume due to an increase of EDV= increased SV to pump out all blood that is
returned to the heart. So generally an increased venous blood return to heart will
increase the stroke volume.
Increase in blood in to heart = increase in blood ejected by heart.

What is the effect of multiple stimuli on the amplitude of heart muscle

contraction (relate your answer to the refractory period of the cardiac
action potential)?

In heart muscles the time at the absolute refractory period is longer and it ends
in phase: 4 when the repolarization has occurred. Meaning that the myocytes
has reached full relaxation summation of amplitude of contraction cannot
occur because no contractile force is left after the endening of absolute refractory
period.

When can addition contractions of heart muscle be observed? Explain why.

(physiological conditions)

Isovolumetric contraction (early phase of systole) occurs during the period both
valves are closed. No blood movement no change in volume, but increased
pressure. This occurs during relative refractory period of myocytes and
pacemaker cells possible to induce new action potential.

Explain why wave summation and tetanus are not possible in cardiac
muscle tissues.

Tetanus and wave summation can occur in skeletal muscle due to the short ARP
and long duration of contraction after end of ARP. In heart muscle we have the
opposite situation. Long ARP and no contraction force left after ARP
contributing to contraction calcium ions are removed from cytosol, intracellular
calcium ion concentration returns to baseline no increase of amplitude because
of increase in action potential frequency can occur.