Cardiac output (Pt1): Electrical events and heart rate Flashcards
CO =
HR x SV
Heart rate is driven by
waves of electrical activity that induce cardiac muscles to contract
2 types of pacemaker cells
ones in the AV node and SA node
AV node
connects atria and ventricles and delays the signal for 0.1ms- allows atria to contract before ventricles
Bundle of His
Fast conducting myocytes that connnect to the Purkinje fibres, only way activity can pass to the ventricles
Myocyte
cardiac muscle cell
Purkinje fibres- why are they wide
Wide allowing rapid conduction throughout the ventricle and simultaneous contraction of ventricles
Purkinje fibres are
nerves
Atrial excitation involves
SA node
ventricular excitation involves
AV node
what causes pacemaker cells of the SA node to trigger an AP
Low RMP
Na+ leakage, leading to depolarisation
Mechanism for APs in pacemaker cells of the SA node
sodium ions leaking in through the F type channels and calcium ions moving in through the T type (transient) channels cause a threshold graded depolarisation.
Rapid opening of calcium L-type channels responsible for rapid depolarisation
Reopening of K+ channels and closing o calcium channels responsible for repolarisation.
What is the overall driver of heart rate
SA node, overrides AV and purkinje fibres
Mechanism for contraction of ventricular myocytes
Rapid opening of VGNC responsible for rapid depolarisation phase
Prolonged ‘plateau’ of depolarisation (contraction) due to slow but prolonged opening of VGCCs and closure of K+ channels
Opening of K+ results in repolarisation
How does calcium produce contraction of cardiac muscle
excitation-contraction coupling
Entry of extracellular ca ions causes release of Ca from sarcoplasmic reticulum by binding to ryanodine receptors