Cardiac electrophysiology and ECG Flashcards
why is it important that the coronary arteries are on the surface of the muscle
so they are not compressed upon contraction
what structures drain blood from the upper and lower body into the right atrium
upper - superior vena cava
lower - inferior vena cava
what does it mean that the heart has variable pump output
flow is not always the same
how many pulmonary veins are there
4
2 from each lung that converge before the heart
what allows cardiac action potentials to propagate from cell to cell
gap junctions
what is the duration of a normal cardiac action potential
what mediates this
250 ms
voltage gated Ca2+ channels allowing leading to a plateau phase of the AP
what is the resting membrane potential of cardiac muscle cells
-85 mV
what structures form gap junctions
what happens if there are genetic deformities of these proteins
connexons
mutations are incompatible with life
what are the specialised conductive tissues in the heart (in order)
SA node
AV node
bundle of His
left and right bundle branch
Purkinje fibres
automaticity of heart cells
ability to generate a heart beat without nervous system input
what electrically isolates the atria and ventricles
annulus fibrosus ?
hearts fibrous skeleton - fibrous rings
where does electrical activity normally originate in the heart
what is the pacemaker potential of these cells
SA node
-70mV
why does the SA node depolarise before the AV node
it has a higher pacemaker potential (less negative)
what forms the only site of electrical connection between the atria and ventricles
AV node
what is the rate of SA pacemaker potential
why is heart rate different to this
~90 - 100 bpm
parasympathetic tone slows natural rhythm