Physiology1 Flashcards
Action potential graphs comparison between atrium, ventricle and SA node.
Atrium reaches peak quickly and drops with no plateau but a slow drop, ventricle peaks very shortly after followed by a plateau, SA node peaks first with an equal rise and drop.
SA node action potential
The nodal cell action potential is easy to recognize since there is no plateau phase, the depolarization phase is slower than in the atrial or ventricular cell and the resting membrane potential is achieved briefly as the cell continues to depolarize automatically until the next action potential is triggered.
Divisions of the action potential in the ventricular cell
Phase 0 is the rapid depolarization, phase 1 is a transient repolarization, phase 2 is the plateau phase where the contraction happens, phase 3 is the repolarization phase and phase 4 is the resting potential phase.
Membrane potential regarding ion influx in phases of action potential in a fast fiber
Graph of the channels in slow fiber action potential
Phase 0 of the fast fiber action potential
- at -90mv, gates closed but small chemical gradient and large electrical gradient, 2. at -65mv, gate is open and Na+ runs through following electrical and chemical gradient. 3. At 0mv, no electrical gradient but Na follows chemical gradient, 4. at +20mv it continues to follow the chemical gradient but is opposed by the electrical gradient, 5. at +30mv the channel is closed and Na+ can’t enter because the electrical gradient overpowers the chemical gradient.
What are the two sodium channel gates?
m (activation gates) and h (inactivation gates).
Where does transient outward current occur?
Phase 1
Where does the Delayed rectifier current occur?
Phase 1 and 3
Where does the inwardly rectified current (Ikl) occur?
Phase 1 and 4, during repolarization from -20 to -70mv
What channels control the small repolarization in phase one
Ito channels
What potassium channels/currents are active in phase 2?
All (Ito, Ik, Ikl) but overpowered by Ca2+ influx and potential stays the same.
What channels are active in phase 3?
Most effect of Ik. All 3 (Ito, Ik, Ikl) to counteract Ca2+ influx and repolarize cell.
When are L Ca2+ channels open?
+10mv, during phase 0 of the fast fiber action potential, open rapidly but deactivate slowly
When are T Ca2+ channels open
-20mv, during phase 0 of the fast fiber action potential, before the L type
Which are the are the most abundant of the Ca++ channels?
L type
The — of Ca2+ balances out the — of K+ to maintain the membrane potential unchanged and cause the plateau phase of the fast fiber action potential
influx, efflux
What ends the plateau phase and begins repolarization?
The Ca++ channels close and K+ efflux predominates
What is the effect of calcium blockers (Diltiazem)?
L type
What is the effect of Diltiazem (calcium blocker)
Decreases plateau phase, lets K+ currents have an upper hand so that repolarization in phase 3 begins much earlier. Starts to make ventricle AP look like atrium.
Torsades de Pointes Phenomenon/Early After Depolarizations
Lack of initiation of phase 3 due to failure of calcium ions responsible for depolarization. Na and Ca channels are not slowed and depolarization is repeated without allowing K to flow out and repolarize. Need to shock.
What causes Early After Depolarization
Calcium continuously entering.
What are fast Na+ channels?
Phase 0 depolarization of non-pacemaker cardiac action potentials (Atria, ventricles, Purkinje)
What are slow Na+ channels?
“Funny” pacemaker current (If) in cardiac nodal tissue (SA, AV)
Action potential graph of a slow response fiber
What are the main characteristics of the slow fiber action potential?
A slower phase 0 in which Ca++ becomes an important component of the depolarizing current, no phase 1 and very little or absent phase 2.
Relative Refractory Period (RRP)
This means that the fiber will not respond with a full amplitude action potential until it is well into phase 4.This makes the fiber less responsive for sometime even when it is in phase 4 and creates a period of extended refractoriness.
Gap junctions role in action potentials
These junctions create an electrical coupling among all the fibers and greatly promote conduction. Remember that in the cell local current refers to the movement of ions. Thus between two fibers you can see a current of positive ions moving across the gap junctions from fiber A to B intracellularly and depolarizing fiber B. Extracellularly, they move from B to A. The original depolarization in A was caused by an action potential that originated in this fiber or an adjacent one.
What is the effect of high EC K+ on AP of fast fibers?
Decreased slope and amplitude. Eventually looks like a slow fiber. Eventually flatlines. Create a block and generate an aberrant cardiac rhythm by interfering with normal pacemaker.
How is coronary disease related to high EC K+?
Causes low blood flow around the heart and diminishes activity of Na+/K+ ATPase in the heart cells. K+ accumulates extracellularly and causes decreased AP.
What is the mechanism in which high K+ affect the voltage gates and the AP?
Lowers membrane potential, closes some h gates, inhibits Na+ entry, lowers AP amplitude.
What are the ranges of K+ that the body can tolerate?
2.5-6.5 mEq
Do fast fibers have a refractory period?
Yes, but all the fast Na+ channels are totally recovered at the end of phase 3. Complete response in phase 4.
Post Repolarization Refractoriness
Period of prolonged refractoriness, conducts more slowly during this period and is more prone to conduction blocks.
Why is a stimulation in early RRP of a fast fiber similar to a slow fiber AP?
Because there is high K+ extracellularly and this blocks the h gates from allowing Na+ entry.