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Read How Nerves Change Heart Rate
The heart is myogenic, but autonomic nerves adjust its rate, conduction and output.
NSEB · Body Fluids and Circulation · 3 linked questions · 100% coverage
Know this first
Heart Rate Regulation is the central idea in this question pattern. Identify the condition in the stem before applying the method below.
Study deeper: NCERT Biology · Body Fluids and Circulation
Speed up or slow down
Sympathetic activity and noradrenaline accelerate the heart. Parasympathetic vagal activity and acetylcholine slow heart rate, reduce AV conduction speed and lower cardiac output.
Retain intrinsic pacemaking
Removing nerve input does not make the vertebrate heart stop immediately because pacemaker tissue generates rhythmic impulses on its own. Nerves modulate rather than create every heartbeat.
OlympIQ exam lens
- ✓Sympathetic/noradrenaline → faster heart.
- ✓Parasympathetic/acetylcholine → slower rate and conduction.
- ✓Intrinsic pacemaker activity persists without nerves.
OlympIQ trap
Acetylcholine is not the sympathetic accelerator in the heart.
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