Electrical activity of the heart, electromechanical coupling Flashcards
Types of myocytes/excitable tissues in the myocardium
- Pacemaker
- Conductive system
- Working fibers
Additional elements:
- Anulus fibrosus
- AV node
What is membrane potential?
electrical differences measured between the outer and inner side of the membrane (sarcolemma)
What is Resting membrane potential (RMP)?
electrical differences measured between the outer and inner side of the membrane in resting state
- Ca -90 mV
- In pacemaker cells RMP does not exist.
- In diastole, spontaneous deplarization occurs, followed by an AP.
What is Action Potential (AP)?
Following certain stimuli, ion channels of the membrane open and the ion exchange between the two sides lead to electrical changes called Action Potential
Pacemaker cells:
- Has no permanent resting membrane potential, but turns into constant depolarization (lifetime pacemaker)
- They are specialized heart muscle cells located in the sinoatrial and atrioventricular node.
- Their main role is the continuous generation of the excitation
- during repolarization the transmembrane potential reaches -55mV an automatic depolarization folloes.
Cardiac cells that depolarize spontaneously toward treshold are called?
Pacemaker cells. Becuase they initiate heartbeats and therefore determine the rate, or pace, og the heart.
Types of pacemaker cells:
- Round pacemaker cells: sites of the generation of the excitation
- Elongated or slender cells: Conduct and synchronize the excitation generated in the round pacemaker cells
explain MDP
- Pacemaker fiber
Maximal Diastolic Potential (virtual resting membrane potential):
- slow Na+ channels open spontaneously - slow depolarization begins
explain SDD
- Pacemaker fiber
Spontaneous Diastolic Depolarization:
- there is no RMP, from MDP till treshold potential
explain overshoot
- Pacemaker fiber
Much lower positive values (+5/15mV) than in working fibers (+25 mV)
Repolarization:
- pacemaker fiber
K+ efflux till MDP
What type of calcium channels to the depolarization open in the pacemaker?
Type-T, rianodin sensitive and Type-L, DHP sensitive.
This opening causes calcium to flow from the EC into the cell creating a Transient Ca-influx.
The deppolarization of the SA-node is due to?
- pacemaker cells
the long-lasting Ca channels (strong Ca influx)
What happens by opening of the K-channels?
- pacemaker cells
It causes the efflux of K ions from the cell, repolarization begins.
Natural factors influencing the heart rate:
by altering the activity of round cells in SA:
- Sympathetic effect
- Parasympathetic effect
And the Vagus escape
What is the sympathetic effect stimulated by?
Beta-1-rec, which stimulates G-protein mediated IC cAMP increase, consequently non specific Na+ and K+ channels open.
What happens when the sympathetic effect is stimulated?
- Non-specific Na? and K+ channel open.
- MDP shifted upwards,
- steepness of SDD increases
- treshold is reduced
= the heart rate (Fr) is increased!
The effect of the sympathetic effect can also be triggered by other signals, like what?
- Norepinephrine (neural signal)
- Epinephrine (endocrinological)
What is the Parasympathetic effect stimulated by?
Acetylcholine (from vagal nerve endings) stimulate muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on round cells.