Cardiac cycle (Edexcel A-level PE)

This lesson describes and explains how the contraction of the heart chambers during atrial and ventricular systole and the relaxation during diastole causes blood to flow through the heart. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resource have been designed to cover the first part of point 1.2.6 as detailed in the Edexcel A-level PE specification which states that students need to learn about the physiology of the cardiovascular system with regards to the cardiac cycle.

The students will have already encountered aspects of the cardiovascular system in topic 1.2.5 and this lesson aims to build on that knowledge. Students will be introduced to the sequence of events known as the cardiac cycle and will learn that the cycle can be split into three parts, which are atrial systole, ventricular systole and diastole. There is a particular focus on the role of the AV and semi-lunar valves in the control of blood flow and students are challenged to explain how pressure changes cause these valves to open or close. The final task of the lesson involves a quiz round called “RECYCLE THIS?” where the teams have to use their knowledge of the cardiac cycle and the function and anatomy of the heart and blood vessels from a previous lesson to spot any errors in the description of blood flow through the heart