11.28 A Flashcards
Describe the pathway of electrical conductance through the heart.
- SA node through the atria to the AV node along the internodal pathways
- AV node to Bundle of His
- through the left and right bundle branches
- to the purkinje fibers
- through the ventricular muscle
If the SA node is damaged, what takes over pacemaking in the heart?
usually the AV node
How does conductance along the internodal pathways compare to conductance through the atria?
the conduction velocity in the internodal pathway is faster than in atrial muscle, so the AP will reach the AV node before the entire atrial wall has depolarized
Describe the conduction velocity through the AV node.
it is much slower than in other areas of the heart
Which action potentials in the heart are calcium dependent?
those in the SA and AV nodes
Which action potentials in the heart are sodium dependent?
atrial and ventricular myocytes, purkinje fibers, and bundle of his
The P wave of an EKG represents what electrical activity in the heart?
atrial depolarization
The ST segment of an EKG represents what event?
phase 2 of ventricular action potentials
How does the resting potential of SA node cells differ from that of cardiomyocytes?
it is more positive, closer to -50 mV, and it isn’t stable
What molecules give SA it’s unstable resting potential?
funny sodium channels
What is phase 0 of an SA node action potential?
the upstroke, dependent on calcium current
What is phase 3 of an SA node action potential?
the repolarization phase where potassium current outweighs calcium current
What is phase 4 of an SA node action potential?
the upstroke of the action potential due to calcium channels
SA node depolarization is dependent on ___ current while SA node repolarization is dependent on ____ currents.
calcium; potassium
What is MDP?
- maximum diastolic potential
- the most negative potential in the SA node
- equivalent to the resting potential of the SA node
The slope of SA node phase 4 and the value of MDP are dependent on what?
the balance between the funny sodium current and hte potassium current
What is the major difference between the action potential in the SA node and AV node?
- the slope of phase IV in the AV node isn’t as steep
- thus the intrinsic firing rate is slower
The intrinsic firing rate is slower in which pacemaker node of the heart?
the AV node
How is the funny sodium channel gated?
it has a single gate, the activation gate, which opens during repolarization
When do the activation gates of funny sodium channels open during an SA or AV action potential?
during repolarization
How are voltage-gated L-type calcium channels gated?
a slow opening and closing inactivation gate and a fast opening and closing activation gate
What is the calcium window?
the overlap of the calcium inactivation gate opening and the activation gate closing or vice versa
L-type calcium channels in the nodes are equivalent to ____ channels in the myocytes, except that…
voltage gated sodium channels except for the existence of the calcium window for the L-type channels