Ch. 19 - Heart Flashcards
Structure of Cardiac Muscle Cells
short, branched, have 1 or 2 central nuclei. Extensive blood supply and numerous mitochondria.
endomysium
wispy layer of areolar connective tissue that supports cardiac cells
sarcoplasmic reticulum
surrounds bundles of myofilaments
Sarcomeres
bundle of myofilaments.
Sarcolemma
plasma membrane with invaginations. In cardiac they are folded at connections between cells to facilitate communication and stability.
Intercalated discs
structural formations that have desmosomes and gap junctions. Allows for quick
desmosomes
mechanically join cells with protein filaments to give extra support/strength.
functional syncytium
a mass of cells in the heart wall that have merged by gap junctions so that when one is stimulated all connected ones are as well. each heart chamber is a functional syncytium because they act as one.
gap junction
electrically join cells (allow ion flow) to make each heart chamber a functional unit
myoglobin
helps cardiac cell metabolism and energy needs. It binds to oxygen when muscle is at rest.
creatinine kinase
helps supply heart with energy. It catalyzes the transfer of Pi from creatinine phosphate to ADP, making ATP
Fuel molecules heart can use
fatty acids, glucose, lactic acid, amino acids, ketone bodies.
What type of metabolism does the heart use?
aerobic (relies on oxygen for energy). Makes heart susceptible to failure when ischemic
ischemic
when oxygen is low
Sinoatrial node anatomy
pacemaker, located high in posterior wall of right atrium
Atrioventricular node anatomy
located in floor of right atrium
Atrioventricular bundle anatomy
extends from av node through interventricular septum. Divides into right and left bundles.
Purkinje fibers
extends from left and right bundles to hearts apex through walls of ventricles. larger in diameter than other cardiac fibers, making action pot. extremely rapid to ensure ventricles contract at same time
Cardiac center
part of medulla oblongata, contains cardioacceleratory and cardioinhibitory centers.. Modifies rate and force of cardiac activity by sending signals via sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways.
Parasympathetic innervation
decreases heart rate. Starts at medullas cardioinhibitory center and relayed via vagus nerve (right vagus innervates SA node, left innervates AV)
Right vagus innervates
SA node
Left vagus innervates
AV node
Sympathetic innervation
increases hr and force of contraction. Starts at medulla’s cardioacceleratory center. relayed via neurons from t1-t5 segments of spinal cord… Extends to sa, av nodes, myocardium, and coronary arteries. Increases coronary vessel dilation.
Heart stimulation
heart contraction involves 2 events. The conduction system and cardiac muscle cells contraction
Nodal cells
nodal cells in SA nodes initiate heartbeat. They spontaneously depolarized and generate action potentials. Have common membrane proteins such as Na/k pumps and leak channels.
Resting membrane potential of Nodal cells
-60mV, but these cells do not have stable RMP
Specific voltage-gated channels unique to cardiac system
slow voltage-gated Na
Fast voltage-gated Ca
Voltage-gated K
autorhythmicity
spontaneous firing; exhibited by SA node cells
Initiation of Action Potential at SA node
- Reaching threshold: slow voltage Na open and Na flow in. Membrane goes from -60 to -40 (threshold)
- Depolarization: fast voltage Ca channels open and Ca flows in. Membrane potential goes from -40 to 0 mV.
- Repolarization: fast voltage ca channels close and K open, so k flows out. Membrane potential returns to -60 and slow voltage Na channels open, starting the process again.
How often does SA node action potential fire?
about every 0.8 seconds or about 75 bpm. Inherently the SA node would fire at 110, but it is kept slower parasympathetic.
Vagal tone
keeps the heart rate slower than 110. it is parasympathetic activity relayed by vagus nerve.
Pacemaker potential (of nodal cells)
ability to reach threshold without stimulation.
Conduction system
Starts at SA node –> action potential distributed through atria and reaches AV node –> Action potential delayed at AV but goes to AV bundle branches –> Purkinje fibers and through ventricles
Why is Action Potential delayed at AV node
smaller diameter and fewer gap junctions. Allows ventricles to fill before they contract. Insulation of fibrous skeleton means AV node is bottleneck (only path)
Papillary muscles
anchor chordae tendineae of AV cusps and pull just prior to increase in pressure in ventricles.
Ventricle stimulation starts at
apex to ensure blood is efficiently ejected towards arterial trunks
Ectopic pacemaker
when pacemaker fails, something else must take over that can spontaneously depolarize. AV is default pacemaker with a rhythm of 40-50 bpm; enough to sustain life. If both fail; cardiac muscles set a rhythm of 20-40 bpm (too slow to survive)