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What does the long refractory period observed in cardiac muscle mean?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
it means that no matter what stimulus is applied the cardiac muscle will not be able to contract
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoCalcium channels are slow to close and potassium channels are slow to open.
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Which type of muscle cell exhibits a longer refractory period?
cardiac muscle
Why impossible for myocardium to go into tetany?
Muscle tetany occurs in muscles without absolute refractory period. The stimulus for contraction comes before the preceding contraction/relaxation is over leading to multiple action potentials without a refractory period. It does not occur in cardiac muscle because it has absolute refractory period during which the muscle cannot be excited, thus making tetany impossible
When a muscle is unable to respond to stimuli temporarily which period is it in?
The refractory period is when a muscle is temporary unable to respond to stimuli refractory period
What period is a muscle is unable to respond to stimuli temporarily?
The refractory period is when a muscle is temporary unable to respond to stimuli refractory period
Can the heart tetanize?
The cardiac muscle fiber absolute refractory is a long period of time (longer then skeletal muscles), so you cannot tetanize cardiac muscle fibers because it has to relax before it is able to contract again.
Can cardiacmuscle be tetanize?
No. One of themost interesting feartures of cardiac muscle is that it has a long refractory period and so conduction cant be continuous and so tetanus is impossible.
What would happen if the length of the absolute refractory period in cardiac muscle cells was the same as it is for skeletal muscle cells?
tetanic contractions might occur, which would stop the hearts pumping action
Why is the cardiac action potential longer?
The reason why cardiac muscle has a longer action potential is to extend the absolute refractory period to prevent another action potential. If too many action potentials stimulate the cardiac muscle it can get into tetanus which keeps the heart continuously contracted without relaxation.
Can skeletal muscle be tetanised?
Yes, because of the short refractory period of skeletal muscle (compared to cardiac muscle), skeletal muscle can be restimulated before the muscle is completely relaxed. If repeated enough times, the contractions fuse together i.e. they become tetanised.
Why do you keep the heart from entering tetanus?
The action potential of cardiac muscle is prolonged consisting of the depolarization spike and plateau and a repolarization period. The action potential causes a long refractory period of about 250-400 milliseconds in the heart.
What is the relaxing phase of the cardiac cycle?
The resting phace of the cardiac cycle is known as the refractory period
What is occurring when a muscle cell cannot be stimulated during the absolute refractory period?
Repolarization
