Electrophysiology of the Heart

Effective cardiac function is a combination of electrical and mechanical events

Cardiac cells possess properties of :

• Automaticity – a pacemaker cells ability to spontaneously start an impulse
• Excitability – ability of the cell to respond to an electrical stimulus
• Conductivity – ability of the cell to transmit an electrical impulse to another cardiac cell
• Contractility – ability to shorten, develop tension, or both