what is the sequence of flow of electrical signals through the heart?
SA node→ AV node→ bundle of his→ left/right bundles→ purkinje fibres
what is the function of the AV node?
ensures atria & ventricles function in sync
- ensures complete atrial depolarisation before depolarisation spreads to ventricles
- ie atria contract→ ventricles contract (AV nodal delay)
what is the function of fibrous rings?
what is the function of bundle of his?
what are the consequences of RCA (right coronary artery) being infarcted?
RCA supplies SA node, AV node, RV and RA
- SA node compromised (fires impulses slower→ bradycardia)
- AV nodal block
what happens during AV nodal heart block?
how is heart rate regulated?
what factors indirectly increase heart rate (via VMC) (4)
what factors directly increase heart rate (3)
what are the sympathetic effects on the depolarising activity of SA node (2)
threshold potential for SA to fire impulse is reached faster→ SA node fires more frequently!!
what causes upstroke in ventricular muscle action potential?
depolarisation of purkinje fibres→ depolarise muscles→ opens voltage gated Na+ channels→ INFLUX of Na+
what causes early fast repolarisation in ventricular muscle action potential?
K+ channels open→ EFFLUX of K+
what causes plateau in ventricular muscle action potential?
Ca2+ channels open→ INFLUX of Ca2+
(K+ efflux> Ca2+ influx→ gradual downward sloping)
what causes repolarisation (phase 3) in ventricular muscle action potential?
Ca2+ channels close→ Ca2+ influx stops→ K+ efflux continues
what gives rise to the P wave?
atrial depolarisation
what gives rise to the QRS complex?
ventricular depolarisation (atrial repolarisation is masked)
what gives rise to the T wave?
ventricular repolarisation
what is PR interval?
what are the pathologies of PR interval? (2)
what is the QRS interval?
time for ventricular depolarisation
what is the RR interval?
what is the QT interval?
what is the ST segment?
what does a Tall QRS complex show? (increase voltage/amplitude)
hypertrophy