Nurturing Life Sciences
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#Unit 7. System Physiology – Animal
SA node has an unstable resting membrane potential.
The “resting membrane potential” of the sinus nodal fiber between discharges has a negativity of about −55 to −60 millivolts.
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The cause of less negative RMP of SA node is that the cell membranes of the sinus fibers are naturally leaky to sodium and calcium ions.
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The inherent leakiness of the sinus nodal fibers to sodium and calcium ions causes their self-excitation.
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SA node has Prepotential or pacemaker potential which is the gradual potential rise from the resting membrane potential to threshold ( -40 mV) & this occur spontaneously.
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Membrane ion channels that play important roles in generation of the action potential:
T (transient) channels
L (long-lasting) channels
Voltage gated potassium ion channel
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Between heartbeats, influx of positively charged sodium ions causes a slow rise in the resting membrane potential in the positive direction.