Physiology 1 Flashcards
What is the heart?
An electrically controlled muscular pump
Where are the electrical signals that control the heart generated?
Within the heart itself
What is autorhythmicity?
Heart capable of beating rhythmically in absence of external stimuli
Where in the heart does excitation normally originate?
Pacemaker cells in sino-atrial node
What in the heart initiates the heart beat?
Pacemaker cells in sino-atrial node
Where is SA node located?
Upper right atrium
What is the function of the SA node?
Sets pace for entire heart
What is a heart controlled by SA node said to be?
In sinus rhythm
How does cardiac excitation normally originate?
* Cells in SA node do not have stable resting membrane potential
* Exhibit spontaneous pacemaker potential
* Spontaneous pacemaker potential take membrane potential above threshold to generate an action potential
What is the pacemaker potential?
Slow depolarisation of membrane potential to threshold
What is the ionic basis for spontaneous pacemaker potential? (3)
* Decrease in K+ efflux
* Na+ and K+ influx (funny current)
* Transient Ca++ influx
What channel type causes transient Ca++ influx?
T-type Ca++ channels
What is the ionic basis for pacemaker action potential?
Once threshold is reached:
* Depolarisation caused by activation of long lasting L-type Ca++ channels
* Results in Ca++ influx
What is repolarisation caused by? (2)
* Inactivation of L-type Ca++ channels
* Activation of K+ channels causing K efflux
Understand diagram
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How does cardiac excitation normally spread across the heart?
What allows the cell-to-cell current flow in the heart?
Gap junctions
What exists between cardiac myocytes?
Intercalated disc
What is the atrioventricular node?
Small bundle of specialised cardiac cells
Where is AV node located?
Base of right atrium
What is the only point of electrical contact between atria and ventricles?
AV node