Cardiac Arrhythmias: Difference between revisions

The plateau phase represents an equal influx and efflux of ions in or out of the cell producing a stable membrane potential. This plateau phase is predominantly observed in the ventricular action potential. The inward movement of Ca²⁺ through the open L-type Ca²⁺ channels (I_Ca-L) and the exchange of Na⁺ for internal Ca²⁺ by the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger (NCX) are responsible for the influx of ions during the plateau phase. The efflux of ions is the result of outward current carried by K⁺ (I_Kur and _Ks) and Cl^- ions.