Anti-Arrhythmics Flashcards
What is the resting membrane potential?
-70mV
What ions are responsible for maintaining the resting membrane potential? Do they have a higher intracellular or extracellular concentration?
K+: high intracellular
Na+, Ca2+, Cl-: high extracellular
How many action potential phases are in the normal sinus rhythm?
Phase 0 to phase 4
What happens in each action potential phase?
Phase 0: Upstroke
- Na+ channel opens, Na+ enters cell
- RMP becomes more positive
Phase 1: Early-fast repolarisation
- Transient outward K+ channel, K+ exits cell
- RMP becomes a bit more negative
Phase 2: Plateau
- Ca2+ channel opens, Ca2+ enters cell
- RMP prevented from being more negative (exiting K+) by entry of Ca2+
Phase 3: Repolarisation
- Inward rectifying K+ channels open, K+ continues to moves out of cell
- RMP becomes more negative
Phase 4: Diastole
- Cell undercomes complete relaxation
What is the effective refractory period (ERF)? It lasts throughout which action potential phases?
Phase 0 to Phase 3 (just before Phase 4)
What is the importance of the ERF?
Important to prepare muscles for depolarisation. Another action potential cannot be generated during this time
What is the action potential duration (APD)? It lasts throughout which action potential phases?
Phase 0 to Phase 4
What is the importance of the APD? What is the difference in duration btwn ERP and APD?
Theoretically, don’t have to wait for Phase 4 to have another action potential, it can occur immediately after ERP but this is abnormal.
Physiologically, APD is longer than ERP
What does the P wave in an ECG represent?
Atrial depolarisation
What does the PR internal in an ECG represent?
The time between the onset of atrial depolarisation and ventricular depolarisation
What does the QRS complex represent in an ECG?
Ventricular depolarisation
What does the QT interval in an ECG represent? What is the significance of this?
Ventricular depolarisation and repolarisation
It is a rough estimate of the duration of an ventricular action potential from Phase 0 to Phase 4
What is excitability?
The cell can change its internal electrical balance to reach threshold.
Mechanism for depolarisation to occur.
What is automaticity?
The cell can generate an electrical impulse without being stimulated (automatic).
Mechanism for basal depolarisation until threshold is reached
What is conductivity?
The cell can transfer an electrical impulse to the next cell.
Mechanism for spread of depolarisation.
What are the classes of anti-arrhythmic drugs?
Class 1A, 1B, 1C: Na+ channel blockers
Class II: ß-blocker
Class III: K+ channel blocker
Class IV: Ca2+ channel blocker
What is an example of a Class 1A Na+ channel blocker?
Procainamide
What is the MOA of procainamide?
- Reduce rate of Phase 0 depolarisation
- Prolong Phase 3 repolarisation
- Reduce conductivity and automaticity
- Increase ERP and APD