Advanced Patient Assessment Practice Exam

What term describes heart cells that have the ability to spontaneously depolarize?

1. Myocardiocity

2. Automaticity

3. Purkinje

4. Systole

The correct answer is: Automaticity

The term that describes heart cells with the ability to spontaneously depolarize is automaticity. This characteristic is inherent to certain cardiac cells, specifically pacemaker cells located in structures such as the sinoatrial (SA) node. These cells initiate electrical impulses without external stimuli, which is essential for maintaining the heart's rhythm. Automaticity is crucial for the heart's ability to function autonomously, allowing it to regulate its contraction and heart rate in response to physiological needs. In contrast, myocardiocity does not refer to a recognized physiological mechanism in cardiac function. Purkinje cells are specialized fibers responsible for conducting impulses throughout the ventricles, but they do not generate impulses spontaneously in the same manner as pacemaker cells. Lastly, systole describes the phase of the cardiac cycle where the heart's chambers contract to pump blood, not a specific property of the heart cells themselves. Therefore, understanding the role of automaticity helps clarify the fundamental processes involved in cardiac physiology and arrhythmias.