Exam 2 – Cardio Ch 10 Flashcards
What is the pathway of the heartbeat?
Begins in the sinoatrial (SA) node
Internodal pathway to atrioventricular (AV) node
Impulse delayed in AV node
AV bundle takes impulse into ventricles
Left and right bundle branches of Purkinje fibers take impulses to all parts of ventricles
What is the importance of the delay in AV nodes?
Allows atria to contract before ventricles
What are conduction fibers?
Modified cardiomyocytes
Do conduction fibers contract?
Yes, just not as much
What is the function of the conduction system?
Conduct depolarization quickly to all parts of myocardium
What is the sinus node?
Specialized cardiac muscle connected to atrial muscle
What does the sinus node act as?
Pacemaker
Why does sinus node act as a pacemaker?
Because membrane leaks Na+ into cell and resting membrane potential is -55 to -60mV
SELF-EXCITATORY
What happens when membrane potential reaches -40mV in sinus node?
Slow Ca++ channels open causing action potential
After 100-150 msec, Ca++ channels close
What happens when Ca++ channels close in sinus node action potential?
K+ channels open more thus returning membrane potential to -55mV
LOOK AT RHYTHMICAL DISCHARGE OF SINUS NODAL FIBER CHART
LOOK AT RHYTHMICAL DISCHARGE OF SINUS NODAL FIBER CHART
What do the internodal pathways transmit?
Cardiac impulses throughout atria
What are the 3 internodal pathways?
Anterior
Middle
Posterior
What does the anterior interatrial band of the internodal pathway carry?
Impulses to left atrium
reaches AV node in 0.03 seconds
What does the AV node delay?
Cardiac impulses
slows down to make sure ventricles are behind atria at a good speed
Delay allows time for atria to empty its blood into ventricles before ventricular contraction begins
Where is the delay located?
AV node