Pacemaker cells consist of which cell types?

Study for the EPU Electrophysiology Exam with comprehensive questions and explanations. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and a variety of question formats to ensure you are prepared to excel!

Multiple Choice

Pacemaker cells consist of which cell types?

Explanation:
Pacemaker activity in the heart comes from specialized cardiac cells that can spontaneously depolarize to generate impulses. The fastest natural pacemaker is the SA node, but the AV node and Purkinje fibers also have automaticity and can drive rhythms if the SA node fails. So the cells that can pace the heart include SA nodal cells, AV nodal cells, and Purkinje cells. Ventricular myocytes, by contrast, are mainly contractile and do not normally generate rhythmic impulses to set the heart rate. Purkinje fibers conduct impulses under normal conditions and can pace if needed, but they pace at a slower rate when acting as a subsidiary pacemaker.

Pacemaker activity in the heart comes from specialized cardiac cells that can spontaneously depolarize to generate impulses. The fastest natural pacemaker is the SA node, but the AV node and Purkinje fibers also have automaticity and can drive rhythms if the SA node fails. So the cells that can pace the heart include SA nodal cells, AV nodal cells, and Purkinje cells. Ventricular myocytes, by contrast, are mainly contractile and do not normally generate rhythmic impulses to set the heart rate. Purkinje fibers conduct impulses under normal conditions and can pace if needed, but they pace at a slower rate when acting as a subsidiary pacemaker.

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