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The slope of phase 0 on the action potential waveform (see figure 2) represents the maximum rate of voltage change of the cardiac action potential and is known as dV/dt max. In pacemaker cells (e.g. sinoatrial node cells ), however, the increase in membrane voltage is mainly due to activation of L-type calcium channels.
An action potential occurs when the membrane potential of a specific cell rapidly rises and falls. [1] This depolarization then causes adjacent locations to similarly depolarize. Action potentials occur in several types of excitable cells, which include animal cells like neurons and muscle cells, as well as some plant cells.
The action potential of a ventricular myocyte. In electrocardiography, the ventricular cardiomyocyte membrane potential is about −90 mV at rest, [1] which is close to the potassium reversal potential. When an action potential is generated, the membrane potential rises above this level in five distinct phases. [1]
The threshold potential is the potential an excitable cell membrane, such as a myocyte, must reach in order to induce an action potential. [7] This depolarization is caused by very small net inward currents of calcium ions across the cell membrane, which gives rise to the action potential. [8] [9]
Once the pacemaker potential reaches a set value, the threshold potential, it produces an action potential. [2] Other cells within the heart (including the Purkinje fibers [ 11 ] and atrioventricular node ) can also initiate action potentials; however, they do so at a slower rate and therefore, if the SA node is functioning properly, its action ...
The signal is a short electrical pulse called action potential or 'spike'. Fig 2. Time course of neuronal action potential ("spike"). Note that the amplitude and the exact shape of the action potential can vary according to the exact experimental technique used for acquiring the signal.
The action potential travels from one location in the cell to another, but ion flow across the membrane occurs only at the nodes of Ranvier. As a result, the action potential signal jumps along the axon, from node to node, rather than propagating smoothly, as they do in axons that lack a myelin sheath.
Figure FHN: To mimick the action potential, the FitzHugh–Nagumo model and its relatives use a function g(V) with negative differential resistance (a negative slope on the I vs. V plot). For comparison, a normal resistor would have a positive slope, by Ohm's law I = GV, where the conductance G is the inverse of resistance G=1/R.