Cardio - Physiology - Excitation & Contraction; EKG; Cardiac Cycle Flashcards
In a normal heart, what percentage of cardiac output comes from atrial contraction?
10%
The AV node has less of what type of channel and what type of cell junction than surrounding ventricular myocytes?
Sodium channels (those that are present are mostly inactive);
gap junctions
True/False.
Gap junctions are opened and closed based on intracellular conditions?
True
(they are regulated by intracellular pH and Ca2+ levels)
What intracellular conditions cause closure of cardiac connexons (gap junctions)?
High calcium levels;
low pH
What intracellular conditions cause opening of cardiac connexons (gap junctions)?
Low calcium;
normal pH
Describe the structure of a gap junction.
6 connexins coming together to make one connexon
In what state will cardiac gap junctions (connexons) be if the cell is at normal physiological conditions (e.g. low calcium levels, pH of 7.2)?
Open
In what state will cardiac gap junctions (connexons) be if the cell is undergoing ischemic conditions (e.g. high calcium levels, pH of ~6.4)?
Closed
What structure is responsible for the electrocardiogram P-R interval?
The AV node
The AV node is responsible for what part of a normal EKG reading?
The P-R interval
What type of cholinergic receptor do the vagal nerves activate on the heart?
What effect does it have on ion channels?
M2 (G-protein);
activating K+ leak channels (promoting K+ efflux),
inhibiting adenylyl cyclase (and thus inhibiting Ca2+ influx)
What type of adrenergic receptor do sympathetic nerves activate on the heart?
What effect does it have on ion channels?
β1 (G-protein);
activating adenylyl cyclase (promoting Ca2+ influx)
Vagal nerves activate M2 receptors on the heart. These receptors activate what type of G-protein subunits?
Gi
Sympathetic nerves activate β1 receptors on the heart. These receptors activate what type of G-protein subunits?
Gs
The channels in the AV node are mostly:
L-type calcium channels
What is a normal time range for the PR interval?
What is the normal time value for the QRS complex?
0.12 - 0.20 sec;
< 0.12 sec
What prevents atrial depolarization from bypassing the AV node and directly leading to depolarization of the ventricles?
A fibrous ‘skeletal’ ring separating the atria from the ventricles
Why is it important that gap junctions close during ischemic conditions?
To try to isolate the ischemic tissues from the healthy
Where does repolarization occur first, the epicardium or endocardium?
Epicardium
Describe the differences in action potential between the following:
SA node pacemaker cells
Atrial myocytes
AV node pacemaker cells
Purkinje fibers
Ventricular myocytes (epicardium and endocardium)
What type of cell are SA node and AV node pacemaker cells?
Modified cardiomyocytes
Arrange the following types of cell from longest to shortest action potential:
Atrial
Purkinje
Ventricular
Purkinje > Ventricular >>> Atrial
Which has more of a phase 1 ‘notch,’ the epicardium or endocardium?
Epicardium
Arrange the following types of cell from most to least unstable disatolic potential:
SA node pacemakers
AV node pacemakers
Purkinje fibers
SA node pacemakers >
AV node pacemakers >
Purkinje fibers
Describe when each of the following types of ionic channel in the cardiac myocytes is active during an action potential.
Name the ionic channel responsible for each of the following segments of the cardiac myocyte action potential.
What is the specific name of the ionic channel responsible for phase 0 of the cardiac myocyte action potential shown below?
Na channel
What is the specific name of the ionic channel responsible for phase 1 of the cardiac myocyte action potential shown below?
Transient outward channel
(K+)
What is the specific name of the ionic channel responsible for phase 2 of the cardiac myocyte action potential shown below?
L-type Ca2+ channel
What are the specific names of the ionic channel responsible for phases 3, early 4, and late 4 of the cardiac myocyte action potential shown below?
Delayed inward rectifier (K+);
Inward rectifier (K+)
Conduction velocity in the cardiac myocytes is proportional to the flow of which ion?
This will affect the steepness of which phase?
Na+;
phase 0
What is the effective refractory period (ERP) in terms of cardiac myocyte action potentials?
The inexcitable period until ~50% of Na channels are able to reopen
If a cardiac myocyte is stimulated during the effective refractory period (ERP), what occurs?
If a cardiac myocyte is stimulated during the relative refractory period (RRP), what occurs?
If a cardiac myocyte is stimulated after the relative refractory period (RRP), what occurs?
Nothing;
a blunt, shortened action potential;
a normal action potential
What parts of the heart are influenced by vagal stimulation?
SA node (right vagus n.)
AV node + Purkinje fibers (left vagus n.)
(Note: ventricular myocytes are not directly innervated by the parasympathetic system)
The right vagus nerve innervates which particular portion(s) of the heart?
The SA node
The left vagus nerve innervates which particular portion(s) of the heart?
The AV node and Purkinje fibers
Which vagus nerve (right or left), or neither or both, innervates the ventricular myocytes?
Neither
What parts of the heart are influenced by sympathetic stimulation?
Virtually all portions
(SA node, AV node, Purkinje fibers, ventricular myocytes)
What cardiac GPCR is activated by norepinephrine?
What cardiac GPCR is activated by acetylcholine?
β1
M2
SA and AV node pacemaker cells have action potentials that are missing which phases normally found in other contractile myocytes?
Phases 1 and 2
AV nodal conduction is centered around flow of what ion?
Ca2+
What effect will sympathetic stimulation have on the PR interval?
Shorter PR
(increased ICa)
What effect will vagal stimulation have on the PR interval?
Longer PR
(increased IK; decreased ICa)
What effect does adenylyl cyclase activation have on cardiac calcium channels?
They are phosphorylated and activated
(allowing calcium influx)
Are cardiac calcium channels similar to sodium channels?
How are they different in regards to time?
How are they different in regards to refractory periods?
Yes;
they are open longer;
the refractory period lasts longer than repolarization
Increased potassium conductance (IK) will have what effect on effective refractory periods in cardiac tissue?
What might cause this increase in IK?
The ERP increases;
vagal simulation
Why is it so important that the AV node be regulated by calcium conductance?
It slows down the current –> this allows time for ventricular filling
Which parts of the heart have automaticity?
At how many BPM each?
SA node (60 - 90 min-1)
AV node (40 - 60 min-1)
Purkinje fibers (15 - 40 min-1)
What is the term for cardiac cells that have the potential for pacemaking but are not normally displaying automaticity?
What is the term for cardiac locations that are abnormal sites of pacemaking?
Latent pacemakers;
ectopic pacemakers
What is the importance of the If (Ih) channel in cardiac tissue in terms of what types of ion it allows through?
It allows for either Na+ influx or K+ efflux
(either monovalent cation, depending on which is needed)
At an Em close to EK, will the If channel allow sodium or potassium through?
Sodium (slowly depolarizing the cell)
What differentiates the SA node from the Purkinje fiber pacemaker cells in terms of types of channel?
There are very few IK1 channels.
If thus becomes much more important
If the SA node (60 - 90 min-1) pacemakers fail, what pacemaker cells take over?
If the SA node pacemakers and the backup above fail, what pacemakers take over?
The AV node (40 - 60 min-1);
Purkinje fibers (15 - 40 min-1)
Acetylcholine has what effect on cardiac If channels and IKAch channels?
Decreased functional If channels (dephosphoylated);
increased functional IKAch channels
An increase in PK (via IKAch) has what effect on cardiac automaticity?
An increase in PNa (via If) (or PCa) has what effect on cardiac automaticity?
A decrease in automaticity (typically acetylcholine-induced);
an increase in automaticity (typically norepinephrine-induced)
Changes in which phase of the cardiac action potential will change heart rate?
Phase 4
(from repolarization leading up to threshold)
What effect does hyperkalemia have on SA node automaticity?
What effect does hyperkalemia have on Purkinje fiber automaticity?
Little to no effect (fail-safe mechanisms);
decrease in automaticity
What effect does hyperkalemia have on cardiac automaticity?
What effect does hypokalemia have on cardiac automaticity?
Decrease;
increase