physiology Flashcards
where is the SA node found
in the right atrium close to where the SVC enters it
what rhythm is a heart controlled by the SA node said to be in
sinus rhythm
what type of potential to the cells in the SA node exhibit
spontaneous pacemaker potential
what does the pacemaker potential do
takes the membrane potential to a threshold to generate an action potential in the SA node
waht is the pacemaker potential due to
decrease in K efflux
funny current (Na and K influx)
transient Ca influx
describe the ion movement during the phases of the SA node cell AP
note Ca influx via L type Calcium channels during depolarisation
describe the spread of conduction through the heart
SA node initiates an impulse that is conducted to atrial muscle fibres causing them to contract. impulse spread to AVN by myogenic (cell to cell) conduction
bundle of His
left and right branches in muscular interventricular septum
branches ramify into subendocardial branches (Purkinje fibres) which extend into the walls of the respective ventricles
how does excitation spread through cells in the heart
gap junctions- these are protein channels which form low resistance electrical communication pathways between neighbouring myocytes
- across the atria via cell to cell conduction
- there are some internodal pathways between SAN and AVN
- within ventricles
describe the structure of a gap junction
the desmosomes provide mechanial adhesion
what is the only point of electrical contact between the atria and ventricles
AV node
where is the AV node located
base of the RA
why is conduction delayed in the AV node
to allow atrial systole to precede ventricular systole
describe the phases of venticular muscle AP
what is the resting mp?
where does the CNX supply in the heart
vagal stimulation
SA and AV node
vagal stimulation slows heart rate and increases AV nodal delay - negative chronotropic effect
on an ECG this causes decreased slope of pacemaker potential
vagal tone
CNX exerts a continuous influence on the SAN under resting conditions - this dominates and slows the intrinsic HR from 100bpm to around 70bpm in resting conditions
neurotransmitter for parasympathetic supply to the heart
neurotransmitter is ACh through M2 receptors
atropine
inhibitor of ACh - used in severe bradycardia
cardiac sympathetic nerves
- where do they supply
- effect
- neurotransmitter
as they supply the SAN, AVN and myocardium, they have a positive inotropc effect (force) and chronotropic effect (rate)
slope of pacemaker potential increases
neurotransmitter is noradrenaline through ß1 receptors
what is the sarcolemma
the cell membrane of a striated muscle fibre cell
outline actin and myosin crossbridge action
ATP is broken down into ADP and Pi on myosin – myosin extends and can attach to binding sites on actin to form cross bridges.
Power stroke – myosin pulls the actin towards the M-line shortening the sarcomere.
ADP and Pi are released during power stroke.
Myosin remains attached to actin until ATP binds again – contract again or relax.
rigor complex
ATP is needed for contraction and relaxation
a rigor complex is formed when the myosin head is bent and bound to actin
- this explains rigor mortis after death
- muscle cramps may be due to development of rigor complex due to lack of ATP or inability to remove calcium
describe the action of tropomyosin and troponin
when muscle is relaxed tropomyosin blocks the cross bridge binding sites on actin
when Ca levels are high enough, Ca ions bind to troponin which displaces tropomyosin exposing myosin binding sites on actin
muscle contraction
Ca++ ions stored in sarcoplasmic reticulum and are released in response to signals from the nervous system to contract.
Neurotransmitter molecules released from neurone and bind to receptors which depolarises the muscle fibre membrane, electrical impulse travels down T tubules and opens Ca stores in sarcoplasmic reticulum.
These travel to myofibrils – muscle contraction
what does long refractory period prevent and what is the significance of this
generation of tetanic contraction
excessive heart rate provides insufficient time for cardiac filling, problems with insufficient oxygen and blood etc
how is the refractory period generated in ventricular cells and AP
ventricular: during the plateau phase the Na channels are closed
AP: during the descending phase the K channels are open and so membrane cant be depolarised
define SV and its regulation
volume of blood ejected by each ventricle per heart beat
= EDV - ESV
changes in SV are brought about by changes in the diastolic length of the myofibrils - this is determined by the volume of blood within each ventricle by the end of diastole (EDV) = cardiac preload
the EDV is determined by the venous return to the heart
when is maximal force generated by myofibrils
at optimal fibre length
what does the frank starling law state
the larger the VR, the larger the EDV and the larger the SV
what effect does stretch have on the affinity of troponin for Ca++
increases it
in skeletal muscle when is the optimal fibre length
at resting muscle length - maximum overlap of actin and myosin filaments
define afterload
the resistance into which the heart is pumping
how does the frank starling mechanism compensate for increased afterload causing decreased SV
with increased afterload, at first the heart won’t be able to eject full SV, so EDV increases
this causes FS mechanism to increase the force of contraction and SV
what happens in longterm causes of increased afterload
eg untreated hypertension
eventually the ventricular muscle mass increases (hypertrophy) to overcome the resistance
how do inotropes increase force of contraction
activate Ca channels resulting in greater Ca influx - this causes the peak venticular pressure to rise, and the rate of pressure change during systole to increase - thus reducing the duration of systole
(inotropic and chronotropic)
rate of ventricular relaxation also increases, reducing the duration of diastoe
what mediates the positive inotropic effect that sympathetic stimulation has on the heart
cAMP - controls Na and Ca influx
how does sympathetic stimulation affected the Frank Starling Curve
shifts it to the left
what effect does a rise in peak ventricular pressure have on the contractility of the heart at a given EDV
increases it
how does heart failure effect the curve
shift to right
what is the resting CO in adults
5l per minute
what is the ligamentum arteriosus
remnant of the fetal shunt ( ductus arteriosus)
a persistent ductus arteriosus produces a machine like murmur
what are the principles of valves
AV valves are open when atrial pressure exceeds ventricular pressure
semilunar valves are open when ventricular pressure exceeds aortic/pulmonary pressure
passive filling and atrial contraction
pressure in atria and ventricles is close to 0, AV valves are open so venous return flows into the ventricles - 80% passive filling
atrial depolarisation (P wave), atria contract and pressure increases forcing the remaining blood into the ventricles
as AC completes, the pressure in the atria falls and the valves shutl producing the first heart sound - S1 (LUB)
this signifies the beginning of ventricular systole