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Cardiac Action Potential
Cardiac Action Potential
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CARDIAC ACTION POTENTIAL 2
The cardiac action potential differs from the action potentials present in other body
sections. It is a brief change in membrane potential across the cells of the heart, caused by
movement of charged atoms that are so-called ions, in and outside the cell via proteins referred to
as ion channels (C.A.P, 2017). The action potentials that are in other electrically excitable cells
like nerves differ from cardiac action potential in that action potentials vary within the heart
For a case in point, as Theeplab.com (2017) states, nervous and the non-peace maker
cardiac cells that are called muscle cells depend on the opening of channels of Na in order to
facilitate the depolarization phase, while the cardiac peace-maker cells depend on Ca ions in
depolarization. In fact, ions transfer from the intracellular context to the extracellular context and
vice versa, are what makes it possible for polarization and depolarization of peace-maker cells
and the cardiac cells of the muscle. Through the cellular membrane, the ions get transferred,
aiding in the maintenance of the different charges in and outside the cell.
The main forces that facilitate the transfer of ions across the membrane of the cells are
chemical and electrical potential. Chemical potential causes downward movement of ion
concentration gradient. On the other hand, electrical potential cause particles that are similarly
charged to move away. Changes in voltage of every single cardiac cell are represented by the
action potential because of their true resting potential, fast in depolarizing, and having prolonged
plateau phase like shown in the figure below (Daily & Yin, 2017).
CARDIAC ACTION POTENTIAL 3
Phase 0 is the rapid depolarization where there are increased sodium ions and decreased
potassium ions conductance. Phase 1 is the initial depolarization consisting of decreased ions of
sodium and increased ions of potassium conductance. Phase 2 consists of plateau phase with
increased Ca++ conductance (Petrosky et.al, 2013). Phase 3 indicates depolarization with
increased ions of potassium and decreased Ca++ conductance. The last phase is the resting phase
where there are increased ions of potassium, decreased ions of sodium, and decreased Ca++
conductance.
And so, since the movement of distinct ions in and out of the cells determines the actions
potentials, the conductance of these ions is what alters the action potentials. Sodium channel
blockers are used in non-nodal tissue in order to decrease the fast inward movement of ions of
sodium, in turn decreasing the slope of phase 0 and the depolarization size (Rohr, 2004). The
principal effect causing this change is referred to as conduction velocity. Like the action
CARDIAC ACTION POTENTIAL 4
potentials, the article on Cardiac Action Potentials (2017) elucidates that, changes in conductance
of membrane by potassium and calcium ions changes the slow response of action potentials, and
in this case, calcium channel blockers are used to reduce the slope of phase 4, in turn decreasing
the rate at which spontaneous depolarization reduces the rate of firing of the peacemaker. This
kind of drugs when used, also decrease the slope of phase 0 that in turn alters the velocity of
References
Daily, N., & Yin, Y. (2017). Improving Cardiac Action Potential Measurements: 2D and 3D
access/improving-cardiac-action-potential-measurements-2d-and-3d-cellculture-2155-
9538-1000168.php?aid=62339
Cardiac Action Potentials. (2017). The Student Physiologist. Retrieved 31 July 2017, from
https://thephysiologist.org/study-materials/cardiac-action-potentials/
Petrosky, A. D., Mejia-Alvarez, R., & Escobar, A. L. (2013). Impact of SR Ca2+ Release on the
Rohr, S. (2004). Role of gap junctions in the propagation of the cardiac action potential.
https://academic.oup.com/cardiovascres/article/62/2/309/316416/Role-of-gap-junctions-
in-the-propagation-of-the
Members-Center/C-Cardiac-AnatomyPhysiology/F-Action-Potential/CF00-Action-
Potential.php