What is the role of sodium, calcium and potassium in cardiac muscle activity?

Dr Mona December 20, 2023

Sodium ions are crucial in initiating the action potential, while calcium ions released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum trigger the sliding of myofilaments for muscle contraction. Potassium ions help in repolarizing the cell membrane after the contraction, thereby resetting the cardiac muscle cells for the next action potential.

Dr Mona

Dr. Mona Mohamed Ibrahim Abdalla is a distinguished medical physiologist with over 19 years of experience in teaching and research. Her expertise lies in endocrine physiology and medical education, contributing significantly to the understanding of obesity and its related complications. Dr. Mona is renowned for her innovative teaching methods and has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Best Physiology Teacher’s Award. She is a Senior Lecturer at the International Medical University in Malaysia, where she leads the physiology discipline. Dr. Mona's commitment to medical education and research is evident in her extensive publication record and active participation in academic and scientific communities.