Lecture 07 Heart Rhythmicity and Normal ECG Flashcards
What is composed of special cardiac muscle fibers?
SA node
What fibers are connected directly to atrial fibers?
SA node
How fast does the AV node receives signal from the SA node after origin?
.03 seconds
How long is signal delayed in the AV node?
for .09 sec
Why are signals delayed in the AV node?
Due to small size of cells, low amplitude of action potential, and slow rate of depolarization during excitation.
Where does the final delay of .04 seconds occur?
In the penetration bundles
How long is the delay from the initial origin of the signal until onset of ventricular contraction?
.16 sec delay
What is slow conduction caused by?
Mainly by diminished numbers of gap junctions along pathway resulting in an increase in the resistance to conduction
What is the pacemaker of the heart?
SA Node
What is the resting membrane potential of SA node fiber?
-55 to -60mV
What is the threshold of the SA node fiber action potential?
-40mV
Why are fast sodium channels already inactivated at resting potential?
Because activation gates close when membrane potential is less negative than -55mV
What causes the membrane potential to become more positive?
At -60mV only sodium-calcium channels can open. There is a slow leak of sodium ions back into the cells and the membrane potential becomes more positive
Since slow sodium-calcium channels are the only ones that can open at -60mV, what are two results of this?
Atrial nodal action potential is slower to develop
Repolarization is also slower
At what point do ALL sodium-calcium channels become activated?
Threshold has been met at -40mV
What channels become open at the time the sodium calcium channels become inactivated after phase 1?
Large numbers of potassium channels open
When potassium ions move out of the SA node what stage is the action potential at?
Repolarization of the nodal cells. And potassium channels remain open for a few tenths of a second
What is the resting potential of SA node vs Ventricular fiber?
SA node -60
Ventricular fiber -90
When the SA node is the pacemaker of the heart what is the rhythm called?
Sinus
When anything other than the SA node creates the pacemaker of the heart what is the rhythm called?
Ectopic focus or pacemaker
What nerve distributes mainly to the SA and AV nodes?
Vagus Nerve
What neurotransmitter does Vagus nerve have?
Acetylcholine
What type of receptors does the vagus nerve involve?
Muscarinic receptors
Involving the vagus nerve what does it decrease?
Decreases the rate of rhythm of SA node and excitability of the AV junctional fibers, slowing transmission of the cardiac impulse into the ventricles.