The downward slope - Cardiac innervation - Parasympathetic nervous system

5 important questions on The downward slope - Cardiac innervation - Parasympathetic nervous system

How does the parasympathetic nervous system affect the heart?

Decreases the heart rate/ beat. Does not have a direct affect on the strength of the contraction.

What is the mechanism for parasympathetic innervation of the heart?

The heart contains M2 muscarinic receptors in the nodal and the atrial tissue. No M2 receptors are present in the ventricular tissue.
The M2 receptors are negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase- reducing the formation of cAMP- affecting the conductance of ca2+.
Additionally, the M2 receptors open the K+ channels- increasing the membrane permeability to K+.

  - the reduction in the influx of Ca2+ and the increase in the influx of K+ results in hyperpolarisation of the cell, meaning that it will take longer for the threshold to be reached (-65mV). this means that heart rate slows down.

Which part of the heart are innervated by the parasympathetic nervous system?

The SAN, AVN, the atria to a lesser extent and the ventricles to an even lesser extent.
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What are the consequences of vagal stimulation?

Weak-moderate vagal stimulation will slow conduction.
Strong vagal stimulation can block transmission to the AV node- consequently, the perkunji fibres will stimulate their own signal that will cause contraction of the ventricles.

What is ventricular escape?

Strong vagal stimulation can block transmission of a signal to the AV node, meaning that the ventricles stop contracting for a period of time. To counteract this, parts of the perkunji fibres- the parts that are located within the ventricular septum- will start to generate their own signal, which will lead to ventricular contraction.

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