CVS - Electrical/Molecular Mechanisms In The Heart Flashcards
(33 cards)
What is responsible for setting up the potassium gradient in a cardiac myocyte?
Movement of K+ ions out of the cell (down their concentration gradient)
At which point does the net outflow of K+ from the myocyte stop?
When Ek is reached
Why is the resting membrane potential of a cardiac myocyte not the same as Ek?
The cell has a very small permeability to other ion species at rest
Why must cardiac myocytes be electrically active?
It allows them to fire action potentials, which trigger a rise in cytosolic [Ca2+], allowing actin and myosin interaction
What causes the upstroke of the ventricular cardiac acton potential?
Opening of voltage-gated Na+ channels, leading to an influx of Na+
What causes the initial repolarisation of the cardiac myocyte during action potential?
Transient voltage gated K+ channels
What causes the plateau in the cardiac action potential?
Opening of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels causes an influx of Ca2+w high balances with K+ efflux
What causes the repolarisation in the cardiac action potential?
Effluent of K+ through voltage gated K+ channels
What are HCN channels?
“Hyperpolarisation-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated” channels which allow influx of Na+ ions which depolarise the cells.
Why is the SA node said to not have a proper resting membrane potential?
The cells are never properly at rest, as they spontaneously depolarise
What is the ‘funny current’?
Otherwise known as the pacemaker potential, this is a mixed sodium-potassium current that activates upon hyperpolarisation at voltages below -50 mV
What is responsible for the upstroke in SA node action potential?
Opening of V-gated Ca2+ channels
What is responsible for the repolarisation of the SA node action potential?
Opening of voltage-gated K+ channels
Why does the SA node set the rhythm of the heart?
It is the fastest to depolarise
What is caused by action potentials firing too slowly?
Bradycardia
What is caused by action potentials failing?
Asystole
What is caused by action potentials firing too quickly?
Tachycardia
What is caused by electrical activity in the heart becoming random?
Fibrillation
What is the normal range of plasma K+ concentration?
3.5 to 5.5 mmol/L
What is hyperkalaemia?
This is when the plasma K+ concentration is too high (over 5.5 mmol/L)
What is hypokalaemia?
This occurs when plasma concentration is too low (less than 3.5 mmol/L)
Why are cardiac myocytes so sensitive to changes in [K+]?
K+ permeability dominates the resting membrane potential, and the heart has many different kinds of K+ channels
What is the effect of hyperkalaemia on the cardiac myocytes?
If plasma K+ is raised, Ek is less negative so the membrane depolarises a bit. This inactivates some of the voltage-gated Na+ channels and slows the upstroke.
What is the main cardiac risk associated with hyperkalaemia?
The heart can go into asystole
