Cardiac cycle Flashcards
What is Convection, in terms of Oxygen transport?
The mass movement of fluid caused by pressure difference
What is the main function of the heart?
Driving force (creates large pressure)
What is the main function of the Arteries?
Distribution (mostly in parallel alter blood flow)
What is the function of the Capillaries?
Exchange (found in a huge number, thin for ease of movement)
What is the function of the Veins?
Reservoir (2/3 of the blood volume are stored in veins and venues)
Why is Convection used to transport O2 instead of Diffusion?
Diffusion is very slow for distances greater than 1mm, therefore useless for whole body transport
Describe the Sinoatrial node (SAN)
Group of cells located in the wall of the right atrium
What are the functions of the SAN?
- Ability to spontaneously produce action potential that travels through the heart via the electrical conduction system
- Sets the rhythm of the heart, known as heart’s natural pacemaker
- Rate of action potential production is influenced by nerves that supply it
Describe the Atrioventricular node (AVN)
A part of the electrical conduction system of the heart, that coordinates the top of the heart
What are the functions of the AVN?
- Electrically connects the right atrium and right ventricle
- Delays the impulse so that the atria have time to eject their blood into the ventricles (before ventricular contraction)
Describe Phase 4 of SAN pacemaker potentials:
- Funny current ‘If’
- After an SA action potential, the membrane repolarises below the ‘If’ threshold, which is approximately (-40/-50mV)
- The funny current is then activated and supplies inwards current
- At -50 mV the hyperpolarisation activates Na+ channels
- Influx of Na+ ions into the cell causes a slow depolarisation: starts the diastolic depolarisation phase
What is the range for the normal resting negative voltage in the cell interior (compared to the cell exterior)?
-40 mV to -80 mV
What concentration of ions is high inside the SAN?
K+
What concentration of ions is high outside the SAN?
Na+ Cl-
How many ions does the sodium-potassium pump transport in and out? and what does it use to do this?
- three sodium ions out of the cell
- two potassium ions into the cell
- uses ATP
Describe phase 0 of SAN pacemaker potentials?
- As the cell depolarises, it reaches a threshold for voltage gated Ca2+ channels
- This leads to a Ca2+ influx
- RAPID depolarisation occurs
(Voltage gated Na+ channels are not involved as in normal depolarisation)
Describe phase 3 of SAN pacemaker potentials?
- Calcium channels switch off
- Activation of voltage gated K+ channels
- causes K+ efflux
Describe phase 0 of atria/ventricular action potentials
RAPID DEPOLARISATION:
- Stimulus from SA node received, causing:
- Voltage gated Na+ channels to open
- Na+ influx
- Voltage gated Ca2+ channels start to open very slowly
Describe phase 1 of atria/ventricular action potentials
EARLY DEPOLARISATION:
- Na+ channels close cells beginning to repolarise
Describe phase 2 of atria/ventricular action potentials
PLATEAU PHASE:
- Voltage gated Ca2+ channels fully open
- Ca2+ influx halts repolarisation
- Voltage gated K+ channels start to open slowly
Describe phase 3 of atria/ventricular action potentials
RAPID DEPOLARISATION:
- Ca2+ channels close
- K+ channels open fully so K+ efflux
Describe phase 4 of atria/ventricular action potentials
RESTING PHASE:
- Stable: Na+/K+ pump (3 Na+ out and 2K+ in)
- Membrane slightly impermeable to Na+ but slightly permeable to K+
Describe the electrical conduction through the Heart
- Electrical activity generated in the SA node spreads out via gap junctions into atria
- At AV node, conduction is delayed to allow correct filling of ventricles
- Conduction occurs rapidly through bundle of His into ventricles
- Conduction through Purkinje fibres spreads quickly throughout the ventricles
Ventricle contraction begins at the apex