The cardiac cycle
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the mechanics of a heartbeat.
Key learning points
- The cardiac cycle consists of two main phases: diastole and systole.
- Diastole is the phase when the heart chambers relax and fill with blood.
- Systole is the phase when the heart chambers contract and pump blood out at high pressure.
- The septum divides the left and right sides of the heart to prevent oxygenated blood mixing with deoxygenated blood.
Keywords
Cardiac cycle - the sequence of events in a heartbeat, including contraction and relaxation phases
Systole - when the heart is contracting causing ejection of blood
Diastole - when the heart is relaxing and filling with blood
Common misconception
The ba-dum of the heart beat represents the left then right side contracting.
The heart relaxes (diastole) to fill with blood then first phase of contraction squeezes blood from the top two atria down into the ventricles before the valves close off and then the second phase of contraction squeezes blood out of the ventricles.
Teacher tip
A nice way to practically represent this is to get each pupil to write a different part of the cardiovascular system (e.g. left atrium) on a mini whiteboard and then add a description of the function of that part and line up in order of how blood passes through the different chambers.
Equipment
Play dough or clay from the art department is perfect for a bit of hands on modelling of a heart in task B or this could be replaced with an extended answer exam style question.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which chamber does blood first enter the heart into from the lungs?
Q2.Which of the following blood vessels carries blood at low pressure?
Q3.Blood is pumped out of the right atrium into the right before being pumped out of the heart.
Q4.Which of the following statements are correct?
Q5.The tricuspid valve separates the atrium and ventricle.
Q6.Place the following parts of the circulatory system in the correct order for blood flow starting at the lungs.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why does the heart make a ba-dum sound?
Q2.Which of the following does systole refer to?
Q3.Which of the following is the best description of the cardiac cycle?
Q4.The relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle is known as ...
Q5.Match the following key terms and descriptions.
the sequence of events in a heartbeat (contraction and relaxation)
the contraction phase where blood is ejected from the heart
the relaxation phase where the heart fills with blood
Q6.Place the following stages of the cardiac cycle in the correct order, starting with the heart filling with blood.
To help you plan your 10 physical education lesson on: The cardiac cycle, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 physical education lesson on: The cardiac cycle, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 physical education lessons from the Anatomy and physiology: the cardio-respiratory system unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.