Automaticity
Automaticity
Automaticity (pronounced: au·to·ma·tic·i·ty, /ɔːtəməˈtɪsɪti/) is a term used in Medicine and Physiology to describe the ability of a cell or tissue to initiate an action potential without an external stimulus. This is a fundamental property of certain cells, particularly in the heart, where it plays a crucial role in maintaining the regular rhythm of the heart beat.
Etymology
The term 'Automaticity' is derived from the Greek word 'automatos', meaning 'self-acting'. It was first used in the medical context in the late 19th century to describe the self-regulating nature of the heart's electrical activity.
Related Terms
- Action potential: The change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell.
- Cardiac muscle: A type of muscle tissue that is found only in the heart and is distinguishable from the two other forms of muscle, smooth muscle and skeletal muscle.
- Pacemaker cells: Specialized cells in the heart that generate electrical impulses that spread throughout the heart to make it contract.
- Sinoatrial node (SA node): Often called the natural pacemaker of the heart, it initiates the electrical impulses that set the rate and rhythm of cardiac muscle contraction.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Automaticity
- Wikipedia's article - Automaticity
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski