cardiac action potential

Pictures/Cardiac AP.jpg

Phase 0: rapid depolarisation

  • Ion movement: Na+ in
  • Ion channels:
    • via Fast voltage gated Na channels
    • L-type Ca channels open
    • Kir K+ channels closed
  • Inhibited by tetrodotoxin

Phase 1: early repolarisation

  • Ion movement: K+ out, Cl out
  • Ion channels:
    • fast voltage gated chanenls close
    • Kv K+ channels open
    • Na/Ca exchanger open

Phase 2: plateau

  • Ion movement: Ca in, K+ out

Phase 3: final repolarisation

  • Ion movement: K+ out
  • Ion channels:
    • K+ channels open
    • Ca channels close

Resting potential is then restored by Na/K ATPase

Effect of digoxin

  • ↑ intracellular Na ⇒ ↓ Na-dependent Ca transport out of myocyte ⇒ ↑ intracellular Ca ⇒ ↑ inotropy