Cardiovascular System Discussion

 

What manages the repolarization and depolarization of the heart and what is the health condition develops when this function works improperly

The electrical activity of the heart takes place at the cellular level. Inside the cells, electrons have a negative charge and they have a resting potential of -80 to -90 Mv (Conover, M. B. (2003). The concentrations of potassium maintains the membrane potential. However, when the cardiac muscle contracts as a result of sodium ions entering the cells, depolarization occurs.   Depolarization means that the negatively charged electrons inside the cells become positively charged (Conover, M. B. (2003. Then, calcium ions enter into the cells and cause repolarization.  In other words, the calcium ions allows the electrical charge to achieve its membrane potential and become negatively charged again. During the recovery period (refractory period), the electrical charge resists electrical stimulation and this means that depolarization cannot happen again (Conover, M. B. (2003). Thus, both repolarization and depolarization are managed by the electrical activity where the cells are stimulated and relaxed. 

Atrial fibrillation

            When the electrical activities are not working well, a health condition known as atrial fibrillation occurs. This condition occur as a result of depolarization (Crowley, 2014).  Note that the depolarization causes muscle contraction. The depolarization should be a normal conduction system throughout the parts of the heart. However, in some cases, abnormal patterns occur   which causes abnormal cardiac rhythms. Note that coordination on the conduction system is needed for normal contraction. However, the lack of coordination results in irregular heartbeats (Crowley, 2014). Atrial Fibrillation is treated through slowing the heart rate and maintaining a normal heart impulse through the use of electrical shock or drugs. The aging population is prone to arrhythmia. The majority of patients with atrial fibrillation are 65 years and above and  these patients develop other morbidities such as heart failure (Khan, 2006).Young people, especially those with congenital heart diseases and  mitral stenosis also develop atrial fibrillation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

Conover, M. B. (2003). Understanding electrocardiography. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby.

 

Crowley, L. V., (2014). Essentials of human disease. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett

Learning.

 

Khan, M. I. G. (2006). Encyclopedia of heart diseases. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Academic.