The Pacemaker Potential EXPLAINED

The video explains the cardiac pacemaker potential, focusing on the sinoatrial node as the heart's pacemaker. It details the role of voltage-gated sodium, calcium, and potassium channels in generating action potentials. The heart's auto rhythmic nature is highlighted, emphasizing that it doesn't require nervous system input to beat. However, the nervous system can modulate heart rate by altering the pacemaker potential. The video concludes with a preview of the next topic: the biochemical steps of heart muscle contraction.

How do sodium and calcium channels contribute to the action potential in pacemaker cells?

Why is it important for pacemaker cells to never come to rest?

How can the nervous system modulate the heart rate through the pacemaker potential?