Cardiovascular system: Initiation and regulation Flashcards
Where does the action potential start from?
The sinoatrial node
What action potential is produced by the SA node?
~1.5mV
How does the sinoatrial node control its depolarise?
It has an unstable resting potential
How do the myocytes of the atria, ventricle and conduction system have different action potentials from myocytes?
They all have the same initial depolarisation, however mysocytes in the heart have a plateau phase of depolarisation
What causes the plateau phase of depolarisation?
The inward movement of calcium ions
What does the calcium influx ensure?
It ensures that the AP lasts almost as long as the contract of the cell
What does the long plateau phase ensure?
The unidirectional excitation of the myocardium (i.e. muscles of the heart)
When does re-polarisation of the myocardial cells occur?
When the voltage dependent calcium channels inactivate
Label the diagram, what is this showing?
Showing an electrocardiogram (i.e. ECG)
What does an ECG show?
The electrical activity of the heart from the front (FYI electrical activity is different at different orientations)
What does the relative size of the ECG waves indicate about the heart?
The relative size of the heart
What creates the P wave? What does it cause?
the depolarisation of the atrium causes atrial systole
When there is a plateau in the ECG, what does this indicate?
Diastole of the entire heart (if there is any contraction in the heart then it causes an AP to be produced)
What creates the QRS complex? What does it cause?
The depolarisation of the ventricle causes ventricular systole
What causes the T wave?
The depolarisation of the ventricular myocytes