Lecture 4: Cardiac Action Potential Flashcards
What is the Na+ (f) gate specific for and when is it activated?
- Funny voltage-gated Na+ channels
- Specific to SA and AV node where it causes slow depolarization during resting phase
- Activated when the SA or AV node repolarizes
What is the Eq. Pot. for Na+?
+30 mV
What is the Eq. Pot for K+?
-90 mV
What is the Eq. Pot. for Ca2+?
+40 mV
During what phase are the Na+ (f) gates open?
Phase 4 (SA or AV node repolarization)
What constitutes phase 0 of AP for ventricles, atria, and purkinje system?
Rapid upstoke (depolarization) caused by crossing threshold (RMP) and voltage-gated Na+ channels opening
What constitutes phase 1 of AP for ventricles, atria, and purkinje system?
Small repolarization caused by start of the Na+ (m) gates closing and some K+ (a) gates opening
Function of the K+ (a) channels opening during phase 1?
Cause a very rapid partial repolarization
What occurs during phase 2 of AP for ventricles, atria, and purkinje system; what is this phase referred to as?
- Plateau phase
- Sustained by slow Ca2+ channels opening and closing of special, voltage gated K+ (b) channels
Function of the Ca2+ channels opening in phase 2?
Cause a slow inward current of Ca2+ to go along with the outward current of K+. Membrane potential remains at a stable depolarization (plateau)
Other than helping to stabilize membrane potential during phase 2, what is another important function of Ca2+ influx?
Causes the release of more Ca2+ from intracellular stores for excitation-contraction coupling.
What occurs during phase 3 of AP for ventricles, atria, and purkinje system?
Complete repolarization is caused by slow Ca2+ channels closing and K+ channels opening
What are the 3 characteristics of the AP in ventricles, atria, and the purkinje system?
1) Stable resting potentials
2) Rapid upstroke
3) Long duration
The resting potential (phase 4) is sustained by the high conductance of?
K+ (c) - the K+ leak channel
How does the phase 4 of AV node differ from that of the SA node?
Slower depolarization during phase 4, typically doesn’t reach threshold until it receives a triggering signal from the SA node.
What is special about the Na+ (f) channels?
Causes the slow, intrinsic and spontaneous depolarization of the SA and AV nodes. This “automaticity” is why the SA node is known as the pacemaker.
What occurs during phase 0 in the SA/AV node?
Depolarization due to: opening of slow Ca2+ channels and closing of special K+ (b) channels
Why is there no phase 1 and phase 2 in SA/AV node?
Due to scarcity of traditional, voltage-gated Na+ (m) channels
What occurs during phase 3 in the SA/AV node?
Repolarization due to: closing of Ca2+ gates and opening of special K+ (b) gates
If phase 4 of the AV node fires before that of the SA node what happens to the heart rate?
The rate will be much slower
What are considered the latent pacemakers?
AV node, bundle of His, and Purkinje fibers
What occurs to bundle of His and purkinje fibers if not stimulated for an extended period?
Will begin to spontaneously depolarize during phase 4
How does the rate of the bundle of Purkinje fibers compare to that of the AV node?
Slower