cardiac physiology Q2.

Structures that connect cardiac muscle cells, containing desmosomes and gap junctions.

Hold cardiac muscle cells together tightly, preventing them from pulling apart during contraction.

Allow electrical signals to pass rapidly from one cardiac muscle cell to the next, enabling coordinated contraction.

The fibrous tissue surrounding AV valve openings electrically isolates the atria from the ventricles.

The inside of the cell is negative compared to the outside.

Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), and Calcium (Ca++) contribute to the electrical potential across the membrane.

The electrical potential difference between the inside and outside of a cell.

"Chemical potential" (concentration gradient) and "Electrical potential" (charge difference) drive ions across cell membranes.

These channels exhibit selectivity (only let certain ions through), time dependence (open and close at specific times), and voltage sensitivity (gate opening depends on membrane potential).

Cardiac cells can function as a coordinated unit due to rapid communication between cells by the gap junctions.