ROLE OF ION CHANNELS IN

PACEMAKER POTENTIAL

REPRESENT BY
VARUN VARSHNEY
ROLL NO. 82
TYPES OF POTENTIALS
1- FAST ACTION POTENTIAL – Refer to the potential seen in the
contractile and the conducting cells that are characterize by rapid
depolarization due to opening of fast Na channels. E.g. in cardiac
muscles
2-SLOW ACTION POTENTIAL – Are characterized by slow
upstrokes because of calcium influx and are of lower amplitude
and slower conduction than fast AP as typically shown by SA and
AV node
MEMBRANE POTENTIAL FOR SA NODE
 There is no true action potential .

 The lowest potential it achieves is about -55 to -60mv copmpare to -85 to

-90 mv of ventricular muscles.
 The cause of lesser negativity in SA node fiber is because of naturally leaky
of Na and Ca ions that is influx of positive ions makes less negative in the
cell
IONIC BASIS OF SLOW AP OF SA NODE

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 because of high sodium ion concentration in the ECF as well as moderate number
of already open sodium channels the leaking of sodium takes place from outside
to inside.
 Therefore this leaking causes a slow rise in the RMP ,thus becomes less negative
between each two heartbeats.
 when potential reaches to threshold that is -40mv the L-type Ca channels become
activated thus causing depolarization
 therefore the inherent leakiness SA node fibers to sodium and calcium ions causes
their self excitation .
Why this leakiness to sodium and calcium ions
not cause the sa node fibers to remain
depolarized all the time ??

• Two events occur during the course of AP to prevent this constant depolarization
 the l type calcium channels becomes inactivated within 100 to 150 m sec after
opening .
 at about the same time greatly increase the number of potassium channel open.
Therefore the influx of Ca ion is stopped and the efflux of K channels started
greatly
Both of these reduce the intracellular potential and take back to the negative
resting level and therefore terminate the AP. .
 further the potassium channels remain open for few tenths of sec resulting in
more negative state called as hyperpolarization .
 this state carries the rmp down to about -55 to -60mv at the termination of AP.
Why this hyperpolarized state is not
maintained forever ??

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 in the next few tenths of sec progressively more and more K channels gets closed.

 this state also causes to inward leak of Na ions and overbalance the K ions .

 this causes the rmp to shift upward once more and finally reach to the threshold

 since the inward leak of Na ions is mainly because of hyperpolarization

so these
channels are sometimes called funny channels and current due to them is funny
current