Electro chemical changes during action potential in heart

Electro chemical changes during action potential in heart

Spike potential (over shoot)

Spike potential (over shoot) is the steep change in the negativity of the cell from – 90 mV to more positivity of + 40 mV in the membrane potential due to rapid increase in the permeability of the Na+ ions to the interior of the cell.

Positive after potential

During repolarization, the membrane potential drops little more negative than the normal resting value of – 90 mV due to excess of K+ ion diffusion to out side the cell. This is caused by the prolonged opening of K+ channels for several milliseconds even after repolarization.

Resting membrane potential in cardiac muscle

The resting membrane potential in cardiac muscle is – 90 mV, but has long action potential (250 msec). 

  • S.A. node                        = – 50 to – 55 mV
  • Cardiac muscle             = – 85 to – 95 mV
  • Conduction system     = – 90 to -100 mV
  • Ventricle muscle         = -100 to -105 mV
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