‫بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحيم‬

Properties of cardiac
muscle proper continue

Abu Ahmed
2019
7. Action potential of cardiac muscle

Cardiac muscle action potential

has a plateau phase.
During the plateau phase the
heart cannot be restimulated.
 the plateau phase prevent the
tetanus of cardiac muscle.
The action potential results in a
mechanical response:
contraction (systole) followed
by relaxation (diastole).
Ionic Basis Of Ventricular
Action Potential
Phase 0: rapid depolarization: due
to Na+ influx through fast Na+
channels.
Phase 1: initial repolarization: due
to K+ efflux through transient K+
channels.
Phase 2: plateau: due to Ca++
influx through slow Ca++
channels.( A balance is created
between influx of Ca+ and efflux
of K+).
Phase 3: Late rapid
repolarization, due to K+
efflux .
Phase 4: Resting membrane
potential .
8. Refractory period (RP):-

Itis very long compared with

that in nerve or skeletal muscle.
Prolong due to presence of
plateau phase
Includes absolute RP and
relative RP.
Cardiac muscle Skeletal muscle
9. Conductivity
The ability of the cardiac
muscle to conduct the impulses
that initiated in the SA node.
This takes place by conductive
system.
10. Recruitment:-
No recruitment in cardiac
muscle because heart function
as one unit.
11. Source of energy

Fat is main source of energy.

Under basal condition 60% of
cardiac needs are provided by
free fatty acids,35% by
carbohydrates and 5% by amino
acids and ketones.
12. Blood flow
Blood flow to the heart mainly
during diastole.
The left ventricle receives
blood only during diastole
and the right ventricle
receives blood during both
systole and diastole .
13. Oxygen extraction:-
Cardiac muscle extracts higher
amount of oxygen (75%)than
skeletal muscles(25%).
14.Rhythmicity :-
Heart contracts regularly.
This also due to presence of
conductive system.
15.Automaticity:-

Cardiac muscle produce action

potential spontaneously.
Due to presence of pacemaker
(S.Anode).
Skeletal muscle can not contract
in the absence of external
stimulation.
 Conductive system
It consist of:-
Sinoatial node(SAnode).
Internodal atrial pathways.
Atrioventricular node(AVnode).
Bundle of His & its branches.
Purkinje fibers.
Conductive system
 Therate of discharge of SA node is
faster than other conductive system,
therefore its determine the heart
rate and called the pace maker of
the heart.
Rate of discharge of SA node
without innervation 100beat/min.
With innervation about 70beat/min
this is due to parasympathetic
which dominates.
The AV node, is the only
conducting pathway between the
atria &ventricles.
The AV node found in the right
atrium on the right side of
interatrial septum above the
fibrous ring.
The AV node delay Impulses
conduction from atria to
ventricles to complete ventricular
filling.
AV node discharge rate about
45beat/min.
AVnode become the cardiac
pace maker if the SA node is
diseased (e.g sinus
syndrome).