Action Potential in Cardiac Cells

Action Potential generation in Cardiac Muscle

- There are channels called “Slow Na+-Ca+2” activated during AP

- Function: Ca+2 influx in stage 2 (prevent repolarization) = plateau, why?

Sinoatrial Node (SA Node):

Small tissue inside heart called conductive tissue, which is responsible for pacing the heart by
Automatic Action Potential generation (75 bpm)- no need for stimulus. (?)

Action Potential generation in SA node:

➢ 1st Stage: Stage 4: Slow depolarization

Na+ is leaking always- high permeability” Funny Current” >>>Until threshold is reached

➢ 2nd Stage: Stage 0: Fast Depolarization

1.At -50mV = T-type Ca+2 channels activated 2. At -40mV = L-type Ca+2 channels activated

➢ 3rd Stage: Stage 3: Repolarization K+

K+ channels open (repolarization)

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 Nerve Cells (Neurons)

Nervous system is formed of two types of cells

1. Neurons:
a. Cell Body
b. Dendrites
 Short Projections from the
cell body
 function: receive input from
other neurons
c. Axon (nerve fiber):
 Long tubular structure which projects from the axon hillock (cone-like
elevation in the cell body)- Site of action potential generation
 ends into axon terminals: have synaptic end bulb (synaptic knob) where
neurotransmitters are stored in vesicle for release

2. Suppurative Cells (Neuroglia)

- Examples: Microglia, Astrocytes, Oligodendrocytes

(Function)
1. Maintenance of neural - uptake of K+ and neurotransmitters from the interstitial fluid around the
environment neurons, to keep them resting
2. Phagocytic activity - when a pathogen is trying to enter, a barrier called blood brain barrier
prevents passage of any pathogen from the blood, but at any time we have
some passage of these pathogens these supportive cells defeat them
3. Nutrition for Neurons - Synthesize and release neurotrophic factors to maintain the survival and
protection of neuron, because neurons do not divide and live long
4. Myelination of - (Myelin Sheath: A protein lipid complex wrapped around parts of
Neurons’ axons the nerve fibers with gaps along it called Nods of Ranvier)
- Myelin made by Oligodendrocytes in CNS or Schwan Cells in PNS

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 TANSMISSION OF ACTION POTENTIAL ALONG NERVE FIBERS

Axon Axon
hillock Action potential
terminals

Factors affecting the velocity of propagation:

1- Diameter of nerve fiber (the larger, the less the resistance, the faster the conductance)
 Types of nerve fibers: A (a, B, y), B & C
 Fastest Fibers: Slowest Fibers:

2- Myelination:
 Two types of propagation, depending on myelination
Continuous Conduction Saltatory Conduction
Types of Unmyelinated Myelinated
fibers
Mechanism Local currents flow between Impulse (Action potential) skips the
active area (Action Potential) and myelinated region, jumping between
another inactive are (Resting) the nodes of Ranvier

by opening Na+ channels in

resting area triggering an Action
potential.

Velocity of Slow Fast (50 times faster)

Conduction
Stops (?)

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 Note:
 No current flow can pass through the membrane
(high resistant)

 Flow in both types of conduction is from the

positively charged to the negatively charged regions
at both sides of the membrane

 Action potential conduct in unidirectional way, How?

 Refractory Period

Once an area has developed an action

potential, the previous region is still under
refractory period (unresponsive area) =>
This area will not develop another action
potential. But the following area that is
at resting potential is capable to initiate
an action potential

- What will happen if we stimulate a

nerve fiber in the middle?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Synapses
 Neurons can terminate at:

1. Muscle (Neuromuscular Junction)

2. Gland
3. Another Neuron (Synapse) - two types
(?)

 Component of the Synapse:

1) Presynaptic membrane
2) Synaptic cleft
3) Postsynaptic membrane

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Steps of Synapse:
1) Nerve Impulse (Action Potential) reaches the synaptic knob causing activation of Ca+2 VGCs
(Ca+2 influx)

2) Ca+2 increases intracellularly, changing the polarity of the neurotransmitters’ vesicles

(make them positive)

3) Vesicle fuse with the presynaptic membrane releasing their contents

(Neurotransmitters) to the synaptic cleft (exocytosis)

Synaptic Delay (Time)

4) The neurotransmitters bind with the ligand-gated channels (CGC) on the post-synaptic
membrane (dendrites) changing the channels activity, this can lead to:
 Excitatory Post Synaptic Potential- EPSP (Depolarization)-Na+ channels
 Inhibitory Post Synaptic Potential- IPSP (Hyperpolarization)- k+ channels

5) After ESPS or IPSP, the neurotransmitter is inactivated or removed, allowing the post- synaptic
membrane to receive another message

Excitatory Post-Synaptic Potentials (EPSP) Inhibitory Post-Synaptic Potentials (IPSP)

- Activation of few Na+ channels - Activation of K+ channels-
induce hyperpolarization
- Cl- channels activations (ECl-=-80mV)-
prevent depolarization
- Graded Depolarization- Subthreshold (not - Hyperpolarization
action potentials)

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 Post synaptic activation / inhibition:

After ESPS or IPSP, the neurotransmitter is inactivated or removed, allowing the post- synaptic
membrane to receive another message, how?
 By enzyme the destroy the neurotransmitter
 By increase the uptake of the neurotransmitter

Example: Destruction of Acetylcholine (neurotransmitter) into acetyl and choline by Acetylcholine

Esterase (membrane bound protein, a destroying enzyme)- acetyl and choline are transported
back to the synaptic knob for recycle

Inhibiting the of receptors at the postsynaptic

membrane:
Prolonging the activation of receptors at 1- Presynaptic Inhibition: Inactivation of
the postsynaptic membrane: synaptic knob by inhibitory inputs
1. Altering (decreasing) the activity of synapsing with the membrane of the nerve
destroying enzymes terminal (inhibition of transmitters’ release)
2. Altering (decreasing) the uptake of
transmitter by nerve terminal 2- Blockers: drugs binding with the post
3. Release of high concentration of synaptic receptor preventing
transmitter (Presynaptic Facilitation) transmitters to bind to receptors.
Example: Hexamethonium (Ach
Receptor Blocker)

Integration of Responses at Post-Synaptic Membrane

(Neural Network Structure)

Convergence Divergence
Many axonal terminals synapsing to one branching (terminals) of one nerve fiber to
neural cell body different neurons
many inputs from presynaptic neurons can converting the signal from one neuron to many
be received by single postsynaptic neuron postsynaptic neurons

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 EPSP & IPSP: Summation

Summation: Is the addition of post-synaptic potentials (sometimes called graded potentials)

Spatial Summation Temporal Summation
Definition - 2 or more responses (EPSP or IPSP) - 2 or more responses (EPSP or IPSP)
- Elicited by 2 or more different - elicited by one presynaptic neuron
presynaptic neuron - appeared simultaneously at shorter
- appeared simultaneously at the same time
time) - at the same site of postsynaptic
- at the same site of postsynaptic membrane
Examples - membrane
EPSP + EPSP = more - repetitive excitation of postsynaptic
depolarization = possible action membrane from a single input= more
potential depolarization = possible action
potential
- IPSP + IPSP = more hyperpolarization
- repetitive inhibition of postsynaptic
- IPSP + EPSP = cancellation of membrane from a single input= more
potentials hyperpolarizing = less possible action
potential

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Recording of Action Potential

 Monophasic Action Potential: One electrode outside the cell,

and another electrode inside the cell

 Biphasic Action Potential: Two electrodes placed outside the cell

membrane- first wave for depolarization and second wave for
repolarization

Electrodes Waves

A Resting membrane potential No wave- line

B Depolarization of 1st electrode depolarization wave
C Depolarization of 2nd electrode No wave – line
D Repolarization of 1st electrode repolarization wave
E Repolarization of 2nd electrode No wave – line

 Look at images A and B then choose the correct answer:

a. Phase (H) represents Repolarization around recording electrode (B)
b. Phase (H) represents Depolarization around recording electrode (A)
c. Phase (Y) represents Repolarization around recording electrode (B)
d. Phase (Y) represents Depolarization around recording electrode (A)
e. More than one of the above

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1.The correct statement about saltatory 6.Which statement is correct:
conduction: a. Patch clamp technique study ionic currents
a. Appears in unmyelinated sheath in living cells
b. Involves jumping of impulse from Schwan b. Hyperpolarization means movement
cell to adjacent one towards the more positive potential
c. Faster than continuous condition c. Na+ Chemical - gated become closed and
d. It refers to saltation of impulse from not capable to open during relative
presynaptic to post synaptic neuron refractory period
e. More than one of the above d. More than one of the above

2.During the action potential for SA nodal

cell, the permeability changes for: 7.Phase 2 (plateau) of the cardiac
a. Na+ ventricular muscle action potential is mainly
b. Na+ and K+ due to:
c. Na+, K+ and Ca++ a. Increased conductance of the sarcolemma
d. Na+, K+ and Cl- to Na+
e. Na+, K+, Ca++ and Cl- b. Increased conductance of the sarcolemma
to Ca++
3.The correct order for the following events c. Decreased conductance of the sarcolemma
is: 1. Activation of chemical gated Na+ to Cl-
channels 2. Generation of EPSPs d. Increased conductance of the sarcolemma
3. Exocytosis of neurotransmitters to K+
4. Generation of action potential at post e. No correct answer
synaptic neuron
a. 3-1-2-4 8.Choose the correct statement:
b. 3-2-1-4 a. Functional proteins undergo exocytosis
c. 1-2-3-4 directly from ER
d. 2-1-3-4 b. Secretory proteins undergo exocytosis
e. 2-4-3-1 directly from ER
c. Functional proteins get stuck into the
4.The wrong statement is: membrane of ER
a. Creating Cl- signal inside cells happens by d. More than one of the above
activation of chemical gated channels
b. increasing Ca++ concentration inside the 9.One presynaptic neuron (one axon) that
terminal activated exocytosis of has terminals synapsing with many
neurotransmitters postsynaptic neurons", this definition
c. G proteins play important role in activity of represents:
channels a. Convergence
d. Na+/K+ pump is "electrogenic" b. Divergence
c. Reverberating circuit
d. Parallel after discharge circuit
5.Increased exocytosis at nerve terminal is
e. All the above
resulted by:
a. Activation of chemical gated Ca++ channels
b. Activation of phospholipase C
c. Activation of adenylate cyclase
d. Increased Ca++ concentration in terminal
e. More than one of the above
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 10.The relative refractory period of an 14. Temporal summation:
action potential: a. Takes place when two EPSPs from the same
a. Precedes (appearing before) the absolute presynaptic input occur so closely together
refractory period of action potential in time that they add together or sum
b. Is mostly when Na+ channels are closed b. Takes place when an EPSP and IPSP occur
and not capable for opening simultaneously in time and cancel each
c. Coincides (at same time) with the lowest
other out.
activity of K+ channels Coincides with firing
c. Takes place when two EPSPs that occur
stage of action potential
d. More than one of the above simultaneously from different presynaptic
inputs add together or sum on the same
cell body
11.All the following with regard to Inhibitory d. Takes place when action potentials
post synaptic potential Except: occurring in two presynaptic inputs
a. Resulted by higher diffusion of K+ simultaneously converge upon the
b. Can be generated by activation of K+ postsynaptic cell
channels e. Occur in smooth muscle only
c. Are negative potential than resting
potential
d. Are more negative potential than
15. An IPSP:
equilibrium potential of K+
a. Is produced by increased permeability
e. Can summit with each other
to Na+ and K+
12.The net diffusion of Cl- becomes zero b. Is produced by increased permeability
when: to K+ and or to Cl –
a. Concentration gradient of Cl- in ICF is equal c. Is a small depolarization of the
to ECF postsynaptic cell
b. Electrochemical equilibrium is reached d. Occurs only at synapses but not NM
c. Both concentration gradient equilibrium junctions
and electrochemical equilibrium are reached e. Both (a) and (d) above are correct
d. Nernst potential becomes 0mV
e. No correct answer 16. Cardiac muscle cannot be tetanized
because:
a. it has gap junctions between cells
b. its cells are rectangular in shape
13. About nerve impulse on myelinated fiber,
c. it has less transverse tubules than
what is the wrong?
skeletal muscle
A. slower than unmyelinated fiber
B. Saltatory conduction between nodes of d. It has a long absolute refractory
Ranvier period of its action potential
C. is a saltatory conduction between Schwan
cells
D. A+C

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