Excitation-Contraction Coupling and Cardiac Contractile Force

Abstract

1. Major cellular structures involved in E-C coupling. 2. Myofilaments: The end effector of E-C Coupling. 3. Sources and sinks of activator calcium. 4. Cardiac action potentials and ion channels. 5. Ca influx via sarcolemmal Ca channels. 6. Na/Ca exchange and the sarcolemmal Ca-pump. 7. Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca uptake, content and release. 8. Excitation-contraction coupling. 9. Control of cardiac contraction by SR and sarcolemmal Ca fluxes. 10. Cardiac inotropy and Ca mismanagement. References. Index.