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Cardiac cellular electrophysiology: past and present

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Summary

The time-course of the cardiac action potential can be accounted for in terms of ionic currents crossing the cell membranes. Depolarizing current is carried by Na+ or Ca2+ entering the cells, repolarizing current by K+ leaving the cells. Membrane permeability for the passive movement of these ions is thought to be voltage-dependent as well as time-dependent. Net transfer of charge may also result from active transport, 2 Na+ out against 1 K+ in; or coupled exchange, 3 or 4 Na+ in against 1 Ca2+ out. This review follows the path by which present-day knowledge has been reached. It also gives a few examples to illustrate that electrophysiology has provided concepts useful to clinical cardiology.

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  1. Department of Physiology, University of Berne, Bühlplatz 5, CH-3012, Berne, Switzerland

    S. Weidmann

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Weidmann, S. Cardiac cellular electrophysiology: past and present. Experientia 43, 133–146 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01942831

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