why is the fibrous skeleton critical?
The fibrous skeleton of the heart is critical for helping to maintain electrical isolation of the upper and lower chambers so that they contract and relax in turn during a single heartbeat
are the valves and fibrous structure all part of the same skeleton? is there an electrical connection through the skeleton?
the heart valves and white fibrous structures supporting those valves are all part of the skeleton. the only electrical connection through the fibrous skeleton is via the AV node and the AV bundle.
Explain the function and terminology for the heart valves
Atrioventricular Valves- divides the aorta from the ventricles
Semilunar Valves-divide the ventricles from the blood vessels
*Aortic semilunar valve-controls blood flow from Left ventricle to aorta
Pulmonary semilunar- valve controls blood flow from R ventricle to pulmonary trunk
describe in order the pathway of blood through the heart.
what is the importance of the chordae tendinae and the papillary muscles? what are their functions?
the chordae tendineae (tendinous cords) holding ends of AV valves to papillary muscles in the heart wall. these one way flap-type valves are seen throughout the cardiovascular system and help to maintain one-way-flow. Pressure will open them but shut them from the “flap” side. Pressure difference will either open or shut the valve depending on which side of the valve has higher pressure. the pressure in the left ventricle is so great during ventricular contraction that the tendinous cords and contraction of the papillary muscles are needed to prevent the valve flaps from being blown upwards into the atria
*if such and event occurs it is called mitral valve prolapes
what are the layers and membranes of the heart in order from the outside in?
*Parietal Pericardium-lines pericardial cavity
*Parietal Cavity
*Visceral Pericardium- lines heart
*Myocardium-muscle
Endocardium-lines chambers
(Epicardium=visceral pericardium)
is there a fluid that reduces friction that lies between the visceral pericardium and parietal pericardium?
yes, pericardial fluid fills the parietal cavity to reduce friction during contractions of the heart
What makes up the heart wall specifically.
what is the description of the endocardium and it’s functions?
what is the description of the myocardium and it’s functions?
what is the description of the epicardium and it’s functions?
are there intercalated cardiac muscles that provide an electric connection?
yes, intercalated discs containing desmosomes & gap junctions which provide electrical connections between adjacent cells
what does the special conducting system of the heart do and what does it include?
Coordinates and conducts electrical activity through the hear, thus coordinating sequence and timing of contraction for arterial and ventricular muscle cells.
Explain the difference in the action potentials of the conducting system and pace maker cells
there are 2 types of action potentials generated in different cell types within this system
the first type is seen in specialized cells that are called pacemaker cells. they are modified muscle cells in specific locations. their action potential has a different shape from the other action potentials in the heart because the initial rising phase is generated by a voltage gated calcium channel rather than by voltage gated sodium channels.
*pacemaker cells do not have a membrane potential. they have pacemaker potentials
what is a pacemaker potential?
the pacemaker potential is slowly depolarizing baseline membrane potential that eventually reaches threshold triggering an action potential
What is the combination of gates that work sequentially to produce a drifting baseline membrane potential (pacemaker potential)?
It is generated by a combination of calcium sodium and potassium channels that work sequentially to generate this drifting baseline membrane potential know as the pacemaker potential.
where are pacemaker cells located?
pacemaker cells are located in the (SA) node the AV node and the uppermost part of the bundle of his (AV bundle)
do the bundle branches and purkinje fibers have a resting membrane potential?
Yes they exhibit resting membrane potentials seen in cardiac muscle cells
do the resting membrane potentials of purkinje fibers and bundle branches still differ from conventional action/resting potentials?
these are still different from the action potentials involved with skeletal muscles and neurons because it involves a voltage gated calcium channel in addition to the normal voltage-gated sodium channel and voltage-gated potassium channel.
what is the sequence of excitation of cells? How many steps are there and name them
The cells of the heart are electrically connected via gap junctions such tat the cells will fire AP's in a specific sequence. 1. SA node 2 Atrial muscle cells 3. AV node 4. AV bundle (bundle of his) 5. R and L bundle branches 6. Purkinje fibers 7. ventricular muscle fibers
Are pacemakers different from myoblasts?
Pacemaker cells and the other cells of the cardiac conduction system are cells that differentiate from other myoblasts in specific locations as heart develops.
what makes them different?
They express channels that are not found in other cells making them able to produce a pacemaker potential, depolarizing baseline that triggers the action potentials
What makes pacemaker cells unusual?
Some of the conducting cells are pacemaker cells
-capable of spontaneously depolarizing over threshold (pacemaker potential)
-action potentials generated by different currents and channels than cardiac muscle cells
what does permeability mean?
a decrease in permeability means a channel closed
an increase in permeability means a channel opened.