Physiology Creator: Cameron McCloskey Flashcards
True or False: Bachmann’s bundle is located in the left atrium.
True
The SA node fires at a rate of?
60-100pbm
Where does excitation originate in the heart?
SA node
What causes the rising phase of the action potential (depolarisation) in SA node cells?
Opening of Ca++ channels, resulting in Ca++ influx
On an EKG the P-wave represents what area of the heart?
Atrial contraction mid to late ventricular diastoly
What gives rise to pacemaker potential?
A
Decrease in K+ efflux
Slow Na+ influx
What causes the falling phase of the action potential (repolarisation) in SA node cells?
Opening of K+ channels, resulting in K+ efflux
Where is the SA node located
Upper right atrium (close to SVC entry)
Summarise the phases of the SA node action potential
A
Pacemaker potential: decreased K+ efflux, slow Na+ influx
Rising phase: Ca++ influx
Falling phase: K+ efflux
When the heart is controlled by the SA node, it is said to be in what type of rhythm?
Sinus rhythm
Which structure in the heart does NOT propagate action potentials?
The annulus fibrous
AV node cells are large and slow to conduct. True/False?
False
They are small and slow to conduct
which structure is propagation of the action potential the fastest in the heart?
c. The bundle of His
In which structure is propagation of the action potential the slowest in the heart?
b. The AV node
What is the pacemaker potential due to? 3charges
- Increase in funny current 2. Background current of potassium influx (Ib) 3. Transient Ca2+ influx
which structure in the heart is there a plateau in the cardiac action potential?
e. The ventricular myocardium
what is intercalated discs
is a combination of bundles of gap and desmosome junctions
Why is AV nodal delay present?
A
To allow time for atrial systole to precede ventricular systole
what is (1) Funny 𝑵+channels (𝑰𝒇)
These channels are open when the cell is at rest Allows more slow movement of Na+ to move into cell making inside of cell + + Allows less slow movement of K+ to move out of cell making inside of cell
How calcium in the cell is shunted back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum during repolarisation ?
- Into SR: ATP dependent Ca++/H+ exchanger. Na+/ Ca++ exchanger via secondary active transport
- Out of cell: ATP dependent Ca++/H+ exchanger. Na+/ Ca++ exchanger via secondary active transport
What happens when the pacemaker potential reaches threshold?
L-type calcium channels open allowing for calcium influx
What are the 2 main causes of the falling phase in a nodal action potential?
- Inactivation of L-type calcium channels - This reduces the inward flow of calcium ions, which contributes to depolarization, and starts to decline during the falling phase.
- Activation of outward potassium channels - This leads to an efflux of potassium ions out of the cell, resulting in repolarization of the membrane potential during the falling phase.
So, to summarize, the falling phase in a nodal action potential is due to both the inactivation of L-type calcium channels and the activation of outward potassium channels.
What permits the spread of excitation between myocardial cells?
Gap junctions
Where is the AV node located?
At the base of the right atrium just above the atrium/ventricular junction

