Frequently missed questions for Quiz No.

1
 

1. Sympathetic stimulation to the heart’s natural pacemaker normally results in:

A. a faster heart rate
B. a greater force of myocardial contraction
C. both choices (a) and (b) are correct
D. the heart’s natural pacemaker is not influenced by sympathetic stimulation

The heart rate can vary quite remarkably depending on various environmental and
physiologic factors. At rest, the SA nodal myocytes depolarize at an intrinsic rate
between 60 and 100 beats per minute, which is generally considered a normal heart
rate. The autonomic nervous system tightly controls input into the sinus node. The
autonomic fibers regulate the firing of the sinus node to initiate the start of subsequent
cardiac cycles and thus, influence the heart rate. Parasympathetic input slows down the
rate of action potential production, thereby decreasing the heart rate; on the other
hand, sympathetic input increases the rate of action potential production, thereby
increasing the heart rate. This tight, regulated control of the sinus node allows for the
heart to adapt to various physiologic stressors placed on the body. For instance, the
heart responds to the body’s increased oxygen demand during exercise with an increase
in sympathetic input, increasing heart rate.

 
2. Select the CORRECT statement regarding the function of myocardial cells:
A. individual myocardial cells are innervated by sympathetic nerves, allowing for an
increased heart rate.
B. the "all-or-none" principle, as applied to myocardium, means that the atria or
ventricles contract as a unit, or, they do not contract at all.
C. the refractory period of myocardium is much shorter than that in skeletal muscle.
D. the influx of extracellular potassium ions is the initiating event resulting in
myocardial contraction.

The all-or-none law is the principle that the strength by which a cardiac muscle fiber responds
to a stimulus is independent of the strength of the stimulus. ... If that stimulus exceeds the
threshold potential, the cardiac muscle fiber will give a complete response; otherwise, there is
no response. The “all-or-none” principle is the property of cardiac muscle in which stimulation
from a single myocyte travels to the atrium and ventricle before contracting, resulting in a
coherent and co-ordinated pump activity.
 
3. Why is the plateau phase so critical to cardiac muscle function?

During phase 1, there is partial repolarization, because of a decrease in sodium

permeability. Phase 2 is the plateau phase of the cardiac action potential. Membrane
permeability to calcium increases during this phase, maintaining depolarization and
prolonging the action potential. It prevents additional impulses from spreading through the
heart prematurely, thereby allowing the muscle sufficient time to contract and pump blood
effectively. This phase is responsible for the large duration of the action potential and
is important in preventing irregular heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia).