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Action Potentials of Heart Cells

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Action Potentials of Heart Cells

Related Video – Cardiac Muscle Cells Review


Related Video – Cardiac Action Potential Part 1: Pumping Heart Basics


Related Video – Cardiac Action Potential Part 2: Role of the AV Node


Related Video – Cardiac Action Potential Part 3: Phases of the Action Potential


The cardiac cells’ electrical charges are generated by sodium and potassium concentrations both inside and outside the cells. These concentrations are regulated by the sodium-potassium channels within the cell wall of the myocytes. These channels give the electrical cells automaticity, meaning that the cells can discharge electrical activity without a stimulus. 

When the cardiac cell is in its resting state, the sodium concentration between the extracellular and intracellular environments is such that there is a zero net charge. When the sodium concentration is higher outside of the cardiac cell than inside, the extracellular environment is more positive, and the intracellular environment is negative. This is known as the polarized state, in which the cardiac cells are “ready for action.” 

Once the polarized cell receives an electrical stimulus, sodium and potassium ions exchange places, and cell depolarization takes place (see Figure 1.3, state 0). This phenomenon causes electrical flow to occur, which allows for the electrical stimulus to travel within the heart. 

Following depolarization, cell repolarization occurs, and the cell’s extracellular and intracellular matrices return to a net-zero charge.

Myocyte action potential.

Myocyte Action Potential

 Sinus node cell.

Sinus Node Cell

A single conduction cell’s action potential has a slower and more gradual depolarizing phase 4 with a net charge.

Conduction cell.

Conduction Cell

The action potential of the working heart cell. The action potential of phase four in a working cell is isoelectric or has a net charge of 0 mV.

Working heart cell.

Working Heart Cell

If the conduction cells are not depolarized by the sinus node cell by about –70 mv, it will depolarize by itself. Escape beats are fail-safe mechanisms to keep the heart going when the normal pacemaker fails.

Examples of Dysrhythmias

  1. Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are initiated by action potentials that come from an irritable conduction cell (an abnormal Purkinje cell or fiber), which cause a spontaneous phase 4 depolarization ahead of the sinus node. This event disturbs the normal sinus rhythm. 
  2. Escape beats are fail-safe mechanisms to keep the heart going when the normal pacemaker fails. When the impulses from the SA node are delayed, the Purkinje fibers spontaneously depolarize the phase 4 potential to produce an action potential. 

When higher pacemaker cells fail, the impulse production by lower sites results in a slower rate. If an escape beat fails to produce an impulse, then the heart goes into asystole.