Electrical Activity in the Heart

Preparatory Activity: The Electrical System of the Heart

1. Before class label this heart diagram using each bold term described below:

The SA node (sinoatrial node) is located in the right atrium near the entrance of the
superior vena cava. The SA node contains cells that spontaneously generate action
potentials at a rate of 80-100 beats/minute.

Action potentials propagate throughout the atrial myocardium from cell to cell via
intercalated discs and through specialized internodal pathways. (no label)

The AV node (atrioventricular node) is located at the junction between the atria
and ventricles. Action potentials are propagated through the AV node very slowly.
The AV node contains cells that spontaneously generate action potentials at a rate
of 40-60 beats/minute.

The AV bundle in the interventricular septum receives electrical activity from the AV
node. This is the only pathway for electrical activity to move from the atria to the
ventricles.

Action potentials propagate from the AV bundle through the bundle branches to
Purkinje fibers, which are large-diameter cells that propagate action potentials very
rapidly to myocardial cells throughout the ventricles. Purkinje fibers spontaneously
generate action potentials at a rate of 20-40 beats/minute.

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Model 1: Sequencing Electrical Excitation in the Heart
(darkened areas indicate electrical excitation)

2. Examine Model 1 and describe what is happening in each of the figures (A-E). In
your descriptions include the names of specific intrinsic electrical system structures
when they are involved.
A. No electrical activity, kind of starts in the SA Node (the dark spot)

B. Electrical activity SA Node (depolarize)

C. Electrical activity within the bundle branches/AV (depolarized)

D. Electrical activity in the Purkinje Fibers (depolarized)

E. Electrical activity in the Atrium (Ignored)

3. Before continuing decide, as a group, which part of the intrinsic electrical system
serves as the normal pacemaker for the heart. Explain your answer.

SA Node because our heartbeat rate is between 80-100 beats/min??

4. A. Mechanical events of the heart must be preceded by an electrical event. Explain

why.
Electrical event is the signal (created by neurons) that will create the mechanical events
to go/operate

B. Depolarization and repolarization are the two electrical events of the heart
muscle.
● What do depolarization and repolarization mean?
Depolarization means the action potential goes down and repolarization goes
back up to the normal rate.

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 ● What mechanical event follows each of these electrical events?
During depolarization, the heart will contract and during repolarization, the heart will
relax.

C. Predict the mechanical event that follows figure C.

The ventricle will contract within the heart

D. Predict the mechanical event that follows figure E.

The atrium will relax

5. The part of the intrinsic electrical excitation system with the fastest rate of
spontaneously generated action potentials serves as the pacemaker. If the normal
pacemaker stopped functioning, how would heart rate be affected? Explain which
cells would take over the role of pacemaker.

6. Why is it important for impulses from the atria to be delayed at the AV node before
passing to the AV bundle?
To make sure blood moves in one way.

7. Predict potential consequences of a heart attack causing blockage of the AV node.

Model 2: Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)

The electrocardiogram (ECG) records electrical activity in the heart. Scientists and
clinicians make assumptions about mechanical activity based on the ECG, but it does
not directly measure mechanical events. The P wave represents atrial depolarization;
the QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization; the T wave represents
ventricular repolarization.

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8. Name the part of the ECG representing:
A. atrial depolarization - P wave
i. Atrial Repolarization has too little voltage and happens at the same time
as the QRS complex.
B. ventricular depolarization - QRS Complex
C. ventricular repolarization - T wave

★ Depolarization leads to contraction; Hyperpolarization leads to relaxing

9. Atrial repolarization is usually not visible on the ECG. Predict during which
wave/complex atrial repolarization occurs.
S Wave

10. Place an arrow on the ECG recording in Model 2 to indicate depolarization of the
SA node.
P Wave

Model 3: ECG and Blood Pressure Changes during Two Heart Beats

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11. Model 3 shows an ECG and blood pressure changes during two heart beats.
Name the three blood pressure locations shown in Model 3.
L. Atrium, Aorta, and L. Ventricle

12 A. Describe the change in left atrial pressure that occurs following the P wave.
The pressure rises
Depolarize

B. Explain what causes this change.

It’ll tell the heart to beat

13 A. Describe the change in left ventricular pressure that occurs following the R
wave (QRS complex).

B. Explain what causes this change.

14 A. Describe the change in left ventricular pressure that occurs following the T
wave.

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 B. Explain what causes this change.

15. Based on the ECG and aortic pressure, which small letter (a-f) in Model 3
represents when the ventricle starts ejecting blood into the aorta? Explain.

★ f wave is important because it is when the pressure of the heart leaves and
the volume of the heart increases
★ On the veins, of the outside body, we’ll only feel one beat because the right
side of the heart’s blood will go into the lungs and the left side’s blood
goes to the whole body
○ Note: Heart beats top to bottom not side to side

Model 4: ECG and Selected Arrhythmias

ECGs are helpful in determining changes and irregularities (arrhythmias) in the heart’s
excitation-conduction system. Below are 4 ECG recordings: a normal heart rate of 75
beats/min and three examples of
normal changes in SA Node
activity.
ge in
Milliv
Volta

olts

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 Time in Milliseconds

16. Lance Armstrong has a resting heart rate of 35 beats/minute. Which recording
above could be Lance’s at rest? Explain.
2nd because the beats/min are more control and constant

17. When Lance is pedaling up a mountainside, his heart rate is 150 beats/minute.
Which recording above could be Lance’s during strenuous exercise? Explain.
Last because of the there are more beats/min than the others.

18. A. Most people have a change in heart rate associated with breathing, e.g. heart
rate often increases with inhalation and decreases with exhalation. Which
recording above shows this condition?

B. Do you have the condition described in 18A? How do you know?

19. People have been known to live without atrial depolarization. What would an ECG
look like in a person with this condition? Write a sentence or draw an ECG to
explain your answer.

20. Given that people can live without atrial depolarization, do you think people can live
without ventricular depolarization? Explain.

MODEL 5: Ventricular Fibrillation

Basketball player Hank Gathers collapsed and died during a college basketball game.
The cause of his collapse was an irregular heartbeat. He suffered from exercise-
induced ventricular tachycardia but developed ventricular fibrillation during the game.
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An automated external defibrillator (AED) was used to try and treat him for this
condition.

21. Describe how this ECG of ventricular fibrillation compares to the normal ECG in
Model 4.

22. What is the heart rate of the ECG shown in Model 5? Explain.

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23. Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib) is a condition of uncoordinated contraction of the
cardiac muscle of the ventricles, making them quiver rather than contract properly.
People who are not health professionals usually cannot feel a pulse. Such an
arrhythmia is only confirmed by an ECG.
As a group, explain why this is a medical emergency that requires prompt
treatment.

24. Is V-fib the same as or different from the person in question 20 who had no
ventricular depolarization? Explain.

25. An automated external defibrillator or AED is a portable electronic device that

automatically diagnoses the potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmias of
ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. It is also able to treat them
through defibrillation, which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish
an effective rhythm.
List three places in your community that you might find an AED.

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