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Intrinsic Cardiac Conduction System: (1) T-Type Ca++ Channels
Intrinsic Cardiac Conduction System: (1) T-Type Ca++ Channels
(ii) Desmosomes
o Proteins that link two nodal cells tightly together
When calcium enters adjacent contractile myocardial cells
via intercalated discs this causes the myocardial cell to
go from Resting Membrane Potential of −90mv→ −70mv
which is threshold potential in these cells.
The voltage of −70mv in contractile myocardial cells in
threshold to stimulate voltage gated Na+ channels
IV) REPOLARIZATION/RELAXATION
Take effects in contractile myocardial cells
If you remember the voltage at the peak of contractile cell
depolarization was +10mv
(1) At +10mv
This stimulates
o Voltage gated K+ channels in contractile myocardial
cells
o K+ moves out of the cell this makes inside of cell
negative
HOWEVER, if you remember the L-type Ca++ channels
are also open at +10mv, so:
o Ca++ is entering the cell as K+ is leaving the cell
After +10mv is reached more K+ leaves than Ca++ enters
o This moves voltage from +10mv→0mv
(2) At 0mv
o K+ leaves at the same rate that calcium enters the
cell → this keeps the voltage PLATEAUED at 0mv for
a small time period
After contraction has finished the L-type Ca++ channels
close and now only K+ is moving across the cell not
Ca++
Figure 4. Electrical activity of myocardium [ResearchGate]
AV node At the top of the interventricular Receives impulses from SA node 40-50
septum Conducts impulses very slowly beats/min
Superior and medial to entrance of (0.1 second delay)
coronary sinus into right atrium This delay prevents simultaneous atria and
ventricular contraction
Fewer gap junctions
Small diameter cells
Bundle Right and left bundle branches span Receives impulses from bundle of his 30-40
Branches along the length of interventricular Right Bundle sends impulses to right ventricle beats/min
septum until the apex. Left Bundle sends impulses left ventricle
Purkinje Terminal conducting fibers located in Receives impulses from bundle branches 30-40
Fibers the sub endocardial layer of Makes sure the entire ventricular myocardium beats/min
myocardium in the right and left contracts as a unit (syncytium)
ventricles Contains tons of gap junctions transmits impulses
very fast