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The reason why cardiac muscle has a longer action potential is to extend the absolute refractory period to prevent another action potential. If too many action potentials stimulate the cardiac muscle it can get into tetanus which keeps the heart continuously contracted without relaxation.

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The cardiac action potential is longer than the action potential in other tissues to allow for sufficient time for the heart to contract and pump blood effectively. This extended duration is important in regulating the rhythmic activity of the heart and ensuring coordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle.

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11mo ago
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Q: Why is the cardiac action potential longer?
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Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

What effect does hypocalcemia have on the cardiac action potential?

Hypocalcemia can lead to a prolongation of the cardiac action potential due to reduced calcium influx. This can result in an increased risk of arrhythmias, as well as potential impairment of cardiac muscle contractility.


Where is the only place you can find cardiac muscles?

Cardiac muscle is a type of involuntary striated muscle found only in the walls of the heart. This is a specialized muscle that, while similar in some fundamental ways to smooth muscle and skeletal muscle, has a unique structure and with an ability not possessed by muscle tissue elsewhere in the body. Cardiac muscle, like other muscles, can contract, but it can also carry an action potential (i.e. conduct electricity), like the neurons that constitute nerves.Furthermore, some of the cells have the ability to generate an action potential, known as cardiac muscle automaticity (meaning the can and do beat on their own).


Will a hyperpolarization graded potential lead to an action potential?

No, hyperpolarization graded potentials do not lead to action potentials. Hyperpolarization makes the membrane potential more negative, which inhibits the generation of an action potential by increasing the distance from the threshold potential needed to trigger an action potential.


What is the regeneration of action potential called?

The regeneration of action potential is called "propagation." It involves the transmission of the action potential along the length of the neuron's axon.


What transmission of the depolarization wave along the neurons membrane?

Action potential