Question

Rate of heartbeat is under the control of:

• A. Autonomic nervous system
• B. Vagus nerve
• C. Glossopharyngeal nerve
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is A Autonomic nervous system

Normal activities of the heart are regulated intrinsically, i.e., auto regulated by specialised muscles (nodal tissue), hence the heart is called myogenic.

A special neural centre in the medulla oblongata can moderate the cardiac function through autonomic nervous system (ANS).

Neural signals through the sympathetic nerves (part of ANS) can increase the rate of heartbeat, the strength of ventricular contraction and thereby the cardiac output. On the other hand, parasympathetic neural signals (another component of ANS) decrease the rate of heartbeat, speed of conduction of action potential and thereby the cardiac output.