15. Cardiovascular Physiology (cont.)

Frontiers of Biomedical Engineering (BENG 100)

Professor Saltzman talks about electrical conductivity in the heart: that is, the generation and propagation of electrical potential in heart cells. He describes the role of ion channels and pumps in transporting sodium, potassium, and calcium ions to create action potential. This propagation of signal from the sinoatrial node through different tissues, which can be replaced by a pacemaker, eventually stimulates contraction of muscle fibers throughout the heart. Next, he describes the electrocardiograph and how each wave trace corresponds to the events caused by depolarization/repolarization of different heart tissues.

00:00 - Chapter 1. The Lipid Membrane and Electric Potential
08:02 - Chapter 2. Creation of Action Potential
15:50 - Chapter 3. Electrophysiological Differences Between Nervous System and Heart
22:43 - Chapter 4. The Cardiac Conduction System
26:46 - Chapter 5. The Heartbeat and EKG
40:35 - Chapter 6. Conclusion

Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://open.yale.edu/courses

This course was recorded in Spring 2008.