Cardiac action potential action potential (see phase 2, below) and is a fundamental step in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling. There are important physiological differences between the cells that spontaneously generate the action potential (pacemaker cells; e.g. SAN) and those that simply conduct it (non-pacemaker cells; e.g. ventricular myocytes). The specific differences in the types of ion channels expressed and mechanisms by which they are activated results in differences in the configuration of the action potential waveform, as shown in figure 2. The standard model used to understand the cardiac action potential is that of the ventricular myocyte. Outlined below are the five phases of
Cardiac glycoside changes to heart chronotropic activity, resulting in multiple kinds of dysrhythmia and potentially fatal ventricular tachycardia. These dysrhythmias are an effect of an influx of sodium and decrease of resting membrane potential threshold in cardiac muscle cells. When taken beyond a narrow dosage range specific to each particular cardiac glycoside, these compounds can rapidly become dangerous. In sum, they interfere with fundamental processes that regulate membrane potential they are toxic to the heart, the brain, and the gut, at doses that are not difficult to reach. (In the heart, the most common negative effect is Premature ventricular contraction.) Cardiac glycoside