Heart conduction system:
• SA node- right atrial wall near opening to superior venae cava
• Av node- base of right atrium near septum
• Bundle of His- originate at AV; divides into 2 branches
• Purkinje fibers- terminal fibers extend from bundle of his
SA Node:
• Sets rate for rest of heart
• Rate directed by SA node
• SA node is damaged, next fastest node sets pace
• SA initiated, action potential spread throughout heart (2 atria & ventricle
contract)
Electrical activity/pacemaker:
• Nodal cells- produce AP
o Initiate & conduct AP
o Pacemaker activity
• Contractile cells- worker cells
o Don’t initiate AP
o Muscle cells
• Three ions- Na+, K+, Ca2+
• Four currents:
o If (funny Na & K)- HCN channels, depolarize
▪ Inflow Na, outflow K
o I Na (Na)- voltage gated Na+ channels, depolarize further
o I Ca (Ca2+)– L-type Ca2+ channels & some T-type Ca2+
o I K (K+)- voltage gated K+ channels, repolarize
Refractory periods:
• Membrane unresponsive until refractory period is over
o New AP can’t be initiated by normal events
o 2nd AP can’t be triggered until excitable membrane recovered
• Smooth, sustained contractional at maximal strength; skeletal muscle
• Alternating contraction & relaxation
Conduction of AP:
• Interatrial pathway- SA node to left atrium
o Rapidly spread AP so both atria depolarize to contract at same time
• Internodal pathway- SA node to AV node
o Electrical contact b/w atria & ventricles
• AP conducted relatively slowly
• Impulse travels down bundle of his & purkinje fibers
o Ventricles contract as unit
o Depolarizes left to right