Chapter 17, Problem 4AYKB

Summary Introduction

To review:

The outcome of a toxin that results in creating the same length of the refractory period in cardiac muscles as present in the skeletal muscles.

Introduction:

The heart muscles generate an action potential due to the depolarization of the sinoatrial node (SA node) of the heart, which acts as a natural pacemaker. The action potential leads to muscular contraction, which helps the heart to supply blood to the whole body. The other cells that have the capability to generate an action potential as a result of the depolarization are the skeletal muscle cells and the neuron cells. After one action potential is generated, the cell becomes resistant to generating another action potential for a few seconds. This period is termed as the refractory period.