4- Cardiac Physiology Flashcards
Where does the heartbeat originate from?
Cardiac pacemaker cells that generate spontaneous action potentials
Discuss the differences between pacemaker cells and non pacemaker cells
Pacemaker cells
No resting potential
Spontaneous depolarization and repolarization
Non pacemaker cells
True resting potential
Prolonged depolarization
What is membrane potential determined by?
Ion concentration gradients
Ion conductances
Electrogenic pumps
How do the opening and closing of ion channels alter the membrane potential
In resting potential
K+ channels opens (Na+, Ca2+ closed)
Hyperpolarized cell
In action potential
Na+, Ca2+ channels open (K+ closed )
Depolarized cell
Discuss pacemaker action potential
Phase 4- pacemaker potential
Phase 0- depolarization
Phase 3- repolarization
What are the intrinsic rate of firing for the nodes?
SA node: 60-100/min
AV node & bundle of His: 40-60/min
Purkinje fibers: 30-40/min
Discuss parasympathetic activation
Parasympathetic (vagal) activation decreases nodal rate (negative chronotropy)
Muscarinic (M2) receptors
Discuss sympathetic activation
Sympathetic activation increases nodal rate (positive chronotropy)
Beta-1 adrenergic receptors
What are the vagal, intrinsic and sympathetic rates?
Vagal 50/min
Intrinsic rate 100-110/min
Sympathetic 200/min
How is pacemaker activity influenced by hormones?
Hyperthyroidism increases heart rate
Hypothyroidism decreases heart rate
Catecholamines increase heart rate
How is pacemaker activity influenced by ions?
An increase in K+ decreases heart rate (K+ channels open)
A decrease in K+ increases heart rate
Nodal ischemia/hypoxia decreases heart rate
What are the heart rate ranges?
During resting
Tachycardia >100/min
Bradycardia <60/min
Maximal
220/min -age of patient ~15minutes
Decreases with age, measured during stress test
Discuss non pacemaker action potentials
Phase 4- resting potential Phase 0- rapid depolarization Phase 1- increase gK+ & decrease gNa+ Phase 2- increase gCa2+ Phase 3- increase gK+
Which element of the cardiac electrical pathway is the fastest conductor?
Purkinje fibers
Which element of the cardiac electrical pathway is the slowest conductor?
AV node
What is the term related to the speed of conduction in a nerve fiber?
Dromotropy
Where are possible sites of conduction blocks?
AV blocks: AV node, Bundle of His
Bundle branch blocks: Left bundle branch, Right bundle branch
Which AV block is associated with ventricular bradycardia, 2 or 3 ventricular depolarization & some atrial potential that has failed to be conducted into ventricles?
2nd degree AV block
Which AV block is associated with ventricular bradycardia and complete dissociation between atrial & ventricular depolarizations and contractions?
3rd degree AV block
Which AV block is associated with delayed conduction through AV node but the presence of a sinus rhythm?
1st degree AV block
Why don’t Purkinje fibers normally take over?
Every time an action potential comes through, the clock is reset
Ectopic foci generate action potentials that don’t follow normal conduction pathways, what effect does this have?
Ventricles take longer to depolarize
What does the ECG measure?
Potential differences between + and - electrodes that are generated by electrical currents emanating from the heart during global depolarization and repolarization
The ST segment corresponds to which electrical event in the heart?
Isoelectric depolarized state of the ventricles
Heart rate is based on which electrocardiogram tracing interval?
RR interval
The P wave corresponds to which electrical event in the heart?
Atrial depolarization