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The rapid influx of calcium into the cell signals for the cells to contract. When the calcium intake travels through an entire muscle, it will trigger a united muscular contraction. This process is known as excitation-contraction coupling. [2] This contraction pushes blood inside the heart and from the heart to other regions of the body.
The Purkinje fibers transmit the signals more rapidly to stimulate contraction of the ventricles. [2] The conduction system consists of specialized heart muscle cells, situated within the myocardium. [3] There is a skeleton of fibrous tissue that surrounds the conduction system which can be seen on an ECG.
The action potential passes along the cell membrane causing the cell to contract, therefore the activity of the sinoatrial node results in a resting heart rate of roughly 60–100 beats per minute. All cardiac muscle cells are electrically linked to one another, by intercalated discs which allow the action potential to pass from one cell to the ...
The cells that make up the SA node are specialized cardiomyocytes known as pacemaker cells that can spontaneously generate cardiac action potentials. These signals are propagated through the heart's electrical conduction system. [1] [2] Only one percent of the heart muscle cells are conductive, the rest of the cardiomyocytes are contractile.
These cells, unlike most other cells within the heart, can spontaneously produce action potentials. [5] These action potentials travel along the cell membrane (sarcolemma) , as impulses, passing from one cell to the next through channels, in structures known as gap junctions .
The heart muscle may become inflamed in a condition called myocarditis, [46] most commonly caused by a viral infection [47] but sometimes caused by the body's own immune system. [48] Heart muscle can also be damaged by drugs such as alcohol, long standing high blood pressure or hypertension, or persistent abnormal heart racing. [49]
This is done by a number of mechanisms: [citation needed] Parasympathetic activation. If the heart is experiencing anoxia, hypercapnia (increased CO 2) or acidosis, the heart cells will enter a state of dysfunction and not work properly. Correct sarcomere crossbridges will not form the heart becomes less efficient (leading to myocardial failure).
Heart tissue, like all cells in the body, needs to be supplied with oxygen, nutrients and a way of removing metabolic wastes. This is achieved by the coronary circulation, which includes arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels. Blood flow through the coronary vessels occurs in peaks and troughs relating to the heart muscle's relaxation or ...