Electrical Activity in the Heart

Flashcards covering essential concepts related to electrical activity in the heart, including cardiac muscle cell types, conduction systems, and electrophysiological properties.

Pacemaker cells

Cardiac muscle cells that have the ability to generate their own action potential.

Conduction cells

Cardiac cells responsible for spreading electrical excitation to the myocardium.

Synchronization of cardiac contraction

Essential for efficient blood pumping throughout the heart.

Cardiac conduction system

Coordinates heartbeat through electrical impulses.

Gap junctions

Structures that allow action potential to spread between cardiac muscle cells.

AV nodal delay

A delay that allows ventricles to fill with blood before contracting.

Pacemaker potential

The gradual depolarization of pacemaker cells, influenced by ion channels.

Funny Na+ channels

Channels responsible for the slow influx of sodium in pacemaker cells leading to spontaneous depolarization.

Contractile cell action potential (AP)

Characterized by a long plateau phase to sustain contraction and prevent arrhythmia.

ECGs

Used to detect arrhythmias, heart block, and ischemia, showing the electrical activity of the heart.

P wave

Represents atrial depolarization in an ECG.

QRS complex

Represents ventricular depolarization in an ECG.

T wave

Represents ventricular repolarization in an ECG.