In electrocardiography, the cardiac action potential is a specialized action potential in the heart, necessary for the electrical conduction system of the heart.
The cardiac action potential differs significantly in different portions of the heart. This differentiation of the action potentials allows the different electrical characteristics of the different portions of the heart. For instance, the specialized conduction tissue of the heart has the special property of depolarizing without any external influence. This is known as cardiac muscle automaticity.
The electrical activity of the specialized conduction tissues are not apparent on the surface electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG - from German word). This is due to the relatively small mass of these tissues compared to the myocardium.
Read more about Cardiac Action Potential: Overview, Major Currents, Resting Membrane Potential, Phases of The Cardiac Action Potential, Automaticity
Famous quotes containing the words action and/or potential:
“Rash actions are seldom committed in isolation. With the first rash action we always do too much. So we usually go on to commit a second one—and then we do too little.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“The traditional American husband and father had the responsibilities—and the privileges—of playing the role of primary provider. Sharing that role is not easy. To yield exclusive access to the role is to surrender some of the potential for fulfilling the hero fantasy—a fantasy that appeals to us all. The loss is far from trivial.”
—Faye J. Crosby (20th century)