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Sinoatrial node

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The sinoatrial node (also known as the sinuatrial node, SA node or sinus node) is an oval shaped region of special cardiac muscle in the upper back wall of the right atrium made up of cells known as pacemaker cells. The sinus node is approximately 15 mm long, 3 mm wide, and 1 mm thick, located directly below and to the side of the superior vena cava.[1]

Sinoatrial node
Sinoatrial node shown at 1. The rest of the conduction system of the heart is shown in blue.
Details
SystemElectrical conduction system of the heart
ArterySinoatrial nodal artery
Identifiers
Latinnodus sinuatrialis
Acronym(s)SA node
MeSHD012849
TA98A12.1.06.003
TA23953
FMA9477
Anatomical terminology

These cells produce an electrical impulse known as a cardiac action potential that travels through the electrical conduction system of the heart, causing it to contract. In a healthy heart, the SA node continuously produces action potentials, setting the rhythm of the heart (sinus rhythm), and so is known as the heart's natural pacemaker. The rate of action potentials produced (and therefore the heart rate) is influenced by the nerves that supply it.[2]

Structure

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The sinoatrial node is an oval-shaped structure that is approximately 15 mm long, 3 mm wide, and 1 mm thick, located directly below and to the side of the superior vena cava.[1] The size can vary but is usually between 10-30 mm long, 5–7 mm wide, and 1–2 mm deep.[3][4]

Location

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The SA node is located in the wall (epicardium) of the right atrium, laterally to the entrance of the superior vena cava in a region called the sinus venarum (hence sino- + atrial).[5] It is positioned roughly between a groove called the crista terminalis located on the internal surface of the heart and the corresponding sulcus terminalis, on the external surface.[2] These grooves run between the entrance of the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava.

Microanatomy

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Figure 2: Low magnification stained image of the SA node (center-right on image) and its surrounding tissue. The SA node surrounds the sinoatrial nodal artery, seen as the open lumen. Cardiac muscle cells of the right atrium can be seen to the left of the node, and fat tissue to the right.

The cells of the SA node are spread out within a mesh of connective tissue, containing nerves, blood vessels, collagen and fat. Immediately surrounding the SA node cells are paranodal cells.[2] These cells have structures intermediate between that of the SA node cells and the rest of the atrium.[6] The connective tissue, along with the paranodal cells, insulate the SA node from the rest of the atrium, preventing the electrical activity of the atrial cells from affecting the SA node cells.[2] The SA node cells are smaller and paler than the surrounding atrial cells, with the average cell being around 8 micrometers in diameter and 20-30 micrometers in length (1 micrometer= 0.000001 meter).[7] Unlike the atrial cells, SA node cells contain fewer mitochondria and myofibers, as well as a smaller sarcoplasmic reticulum. This means that the SA node cells are less equipped to contract compared to the atrial and ventricular cells.[8]

Action potentials pass from one cardiac cell to the next through pores known as gap junctions. These gap junctions are made of proteins called connexins. There are fewer gap junctions within the SA node and they are smaller in size. This is again important in insulating the SA node from the surrounding atrial cells.[2][8]

Blood supply

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The sinoatrial node receives its blood supply from the sinoatrial nodal artery. This blood supply, however, can differ hugely between individuals. For example, in most humans, this is a single artery, although in some cases there have been either 2 or 3 sinoatrial node arteries supplying the SA node. Also, the SA node artery mainly originates as a branch of the right coronary artery; however in some individuals it has arisen from the circumflex artery, which is a branch of the left coronary artery. Finally, the SA node artery commonly passes behind the superior vena cava, before reaching the SA node; however in some instances it passes in front. Despite these many differences, there doesn't appear to be any advantage to how many sinoatrial nodal arteries an individual has, or where they originate.[9]

Venous drainage

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There are no large veins that drain blood away from the SA node. Instead, smaller venules drain the blood directly into the right atrium.[10]

Function

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Pacemaking

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See also: Cardiac pacemaker

The main role of a sinoatrial node cell is to initiate action potentials of the heart that can pass through cardiac muscle cells and cause contraction. An action potential is a rapid change in membrane potential, produced by the movement of charged atoms (ions). In the absence of stimulation, non-pacemaker cells (including the ventricular and atrial cells) have a relatively constant membrane potential; this is known as a resting potential. This resting phase (see cardiac action potential, phase 4) ends when an action potential reaches the cell. This produces a positive change in membrane potential, known as depolarization, which is propagated throughout the heart and initiates muscle contraction. Pacemaker cells, however, do not have a resting potential. Instead, immediately after repolarization, the membrane potential of these cells begins to depolarise again automatically, a phenomenon known as the pacemaker potential. Once the pacemaker potential reaches a set value, the threshold potential, it produces an action potential.[2] Other cells within the heart (including the Purkinje fibers[11] and atrioventricular node) can also initiate action potentials; however, they do so at a slower rate and therefore, if the SA node is functioning properly, its action potentials usually override those that would be produced by other tissues.[12]

Outlined below are the 3 phases of a sinoatrial node action potential. In the cardiac action potential, there are 5 phases (labelled 0-4), however pacemaker action potentials do not have an obvious phase 1 or 2.

Phase 4

 
Figure 3: Sinoatrial node action potential waveform, outlining major ion currents involved (downward deflection indicates ions moving into the cell, upwards deflection indicates ions flowing out of the cell).

This phase is also known as the pacemaker potential. Immediately following repolarization, when the membrane potential is very negative (it is hyperpolarised), the voltage slowly begins to increase. This is initially due to the closing of potassium channels, which reduces the flow of potassium ions (Ik) out of the cell (see phase 2, below).[13] Hyperpolarization also causes activation of hyperpolarisation-activated cyclic nucleotide–gated (HCN) channels. The activation of ion channels at very negative membrane potentials is unusual, therefore the flow of sodium (Na+) and some K+ through the activated HCN channel is referred to as a funny current (If).[14] This funny current causes the membrane potential of the cell to gradually increase, as the positive charge (Na+ and K+) is flowing into the cell. Another mechanism involved in pacemaker potential is known as the calcium clock. This refers to the spontaneous release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (a calcium store) into the cytoplasm, also known as calcium sparks. This increase in calcium within the cell then activates a sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX), which removes one Ca2+ from the cell, and exchanges it for 3 Na+ into the cell (therefore removing a charge of +2 from the cell, but allowing a charge of +3 to enter the cell) further increasing the membrane potential. Calcium later reenters the cell via SERCA and calcium channels located on the cell membrane.[15] The increase in membrane potential produced by these mechanisms, activates T-type calcium channels and then L-type calcium channels (which open very slowly). These channels allow a flow of Ca2+ into the cell, making the membrane potential even more positive.

Phase 0

This is the depolarization phase. When the membrane potential reaches the threshold potential (around -20 to -50 mV), the cell begins to rapidly depolarise (become more positive).[16] This is mainly due to the flow of Ca2+ through L-type calcium channels, which are now fully open. During this stage, T-type calcium channels and HCN channels deactivate.

Phase 3

This phase is the repolarization phase. This occurs due to the inactivation of L-type calcium channels (preventing the movement of Ca2+ into the cell) and the activation of potassium channels, which allows the flow of K+ out of the cell, making the membrane potential more negative.[17]

Nerve supply

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Heart rate depends on the rate at which the sinoatrial node produces action potentials. At rest, heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. This is a result of the activity of two sets of nerves, one acting to slow down action potential production (these are parasympathetic nerves) and the other acting to speed up action potential production (sympathetic nerves).[18]

Modulation of heart rate by ANS is carried by two types of channel: Kir and HCN (members of the CNG gated channels).

The sympathetic nerves begin in the thoracic region of the spinal cord (in particular T1-T4). These nerves release a neurotransmitter called noradrenaline (NA). This binds to a receptor on the SA node membrane, called a beta-1adrenoceptor. Binding of NA to this receptor activates a G-protein (in particular a Gs-Protein, S for stimulatory) which initiates a series of reactions (known as the cAMP pathway) that results in the production of a molecule called cyclic adenosinemonophosphate (cAMP). This cAMP binds to the HCN channel (see above). Binding of cAMP to the HCN increases the flow of Na+ and K+ into the cell, speeding up the pacemaker potential, so producing action potentials at a quicker rate and increasing heart rate.[19] An increase in heart rate is known as positive chronotropy.

The parasympathetic nerves supplying the SA node (in particular the Vagus nerves) originate in the brain. These nerves release a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (ACh). ACh binds to a receptor called an M2 muscarinic receptor, located on the SA node membrane. Activation of this M2 receptor then activates a protein called a G-protein (in particular Gi protein, i for inhibitory). Activation of this G-protein blocks the cAMP pathway, reducing its effects, therefore inhibiting sympathetic activity and slowing action potential production. The G-protein also activates a potassium channel GIRK-1 and GIRK-4, which allows K+ to flow out of the cell, making the membrane potential more negative and slowing the pacemaker potential, therefore decreasing the rate of action potential production and therefore decreasing heart rate.[20] A decrease in heart rate is known as negative chronotropy.

The first cell to produce the action potential in the SA node isn't always the same; this is known as pacemaker shift. In certain species of animals—for example, in dogs—a superior shift (i.e., the cell that produces the fastest action potential in the SA node is higher than previously) usually produces an increased heart rate whereas an inferior shift (i.e. the cell producing the fastest action potential within the SA node is further down than previously) produces a decreased heart rate.[2]

Clinical significance

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Sinus node dysfunction also known as sick sinus syndrome is a group of irregular heartbeat conditions caused by faulty electrical signals of the heart. When the heart's sinoatrial node is defective, the heart's rhythms become abnormal—typically too slow or exhibiting pauses in its function or a combination, and very rarely faster than normal.[21]

Blockage of the arterial blood supply to the SA node (most commonly due to a myocardial infarction or progressive coronary artery disease) can therefore cause ischemia and cell death in the SA node. This can disrupt the electrical pacemaker function of the SA node, and can result in sinus node dysfunction.

If the SA node does not function or the impulse generated in the SA node is blocked before it travels down the electrical conduction system, a group of cells further down the heart will become its pacemaker.[22]

History

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The sinoatrial node was first discovered by a young medical student, Martin Flack, in the heart of a mole, whilst his mentor, Sir Arthur Keith, was on a bicycle ride with his wife. They made the discovery in a makeshift laboratory set up in a farmhouse in Kent, England, called Mann's Place. Their discovery was published in 1907.[23][24]

Additional images

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    Heart; conduction system (SA node labeled 1)
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    Schematic representation of the atrioventricular bundle

See also

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This article uses anatomical terminology.

References

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  1. ^ a b Hall, John E. (2011). Guyton and Hall textbook of medical physiology (Twelfth ed.). Philadelphia, Pa. p. 115. ISBN 9781416045748.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Monfredi, O.; Dobrzynski, H.; Mondal, T.; Boyett, M.R.; Morris, G.M. (2010). "The anatomy and physiology of the Sinoatrial Node-A contemporary review". Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology. 33 (11): 1392–1406. doi:10.1111/j.1540-8159.2010.02838.x. PMID 20946278. S2CID 22207608.
  3. ^ Csepe, Thomas A.; Zhao, Jichao; Hansen, Brian J.; Li, Ning; Sul, Lidiya V.; Lim, Praise; Wang, Yufeng; Simonetti, Orlando P.; Kilic, Ahmet (1 March 2017). "Human Sinoatrial Node Structure: 3D Microanatomy of Sinoatrial Conduction Pathways". Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology. 120 (1–3): 164–178. doi:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2015.12.011. ISSN 0079-6107. PMC 4808362. PMID 26743207.
  4. ^ Chandler, N.; Aslanidi, O.; Buckley, D.; Inada, S.; Birchall, S.; Atkinson, A.; Kirk, D.; Monfredi, O.; Molenaar, P.; Anderson, R.; Sharma, V.; Sigg, D.; Zhang, H.; Boyett, M.; Dobrzynski, H. (2011). "Computer three-dimensional anatomical recon-struction of the human sinus node and a novel paranodal area". Anatomical Record. 294 (6): 970–9. doi:10.1002/ar.21379. PMID 21538926. S2CID 45464625.
  5. ^ Elsevier, Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, Elsevier.
  6. ^ Chandler, NJ; Greener, ID; Tellez, JO; Inada, S; Musa, H; Molenaar, P; Difrancesco, D; et al. (2009). "Molecular architecture of the human sinus node: Insights into the function of the cardiac pacemaker". Circulation. 119 (12): 1562–1575. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.108.804369. PMID 19289639.
  7. ^ Honjo, H.; Boyett, M.R.; Kodama, I.; Toyama, J. (1996). "Correlation between electrical activity and the size of rabbit sino-atrial node cells". The Journal of Physiology. 496 (3): 795–808. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1996.sp021728. PMC 1160865. PMID 8930845.
  8. ^ a b Boyett, Honjo; Kodama, I. (2000). "The sinoatrial node, a heterogeneous pace-maker structure". Cardiovascular Research. 47 (4): 658–87. doi:10.1016/s0008-6363(00)00135-8. PMID 10974216.
  9. ^ Vikse, J.; Henry, B.M.; Roy, J.; Ramakrishnan, P.K.; Hsieh, W.C.; Walocha, J.A.; Tomaszewski, K.A. (2016b). "Anatomical variations in the Sinoatrial Nodal artery: A Meta-Analysis and clinical considerations". PLOS ONE. 11 (2): e0148331. Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1148331V. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148331. PMC 4743947. PMID 26849441.
  10. ^ Anderson, K.R.; Ho, S.Y.; Anderson, R.H. (1979). "Location and vascular supply of sinus node in human heart". Heart. 41 (1): 28–32. doi:10.1136/hrt.41.1.28. PMC 514694. PMID 426954.
  11. ^ Tsien, R. W.; Carpenter, D. O. (1 June 1978). "Ionic mechanisms of pacemaker activity in cardiac Purkinje fibers". Federation Proceedings. 37 (8): 2127–2131. ISSN 0014-9446. PMID 350631.
  12. ^ Vassalle, M. (1977). "The relationship among cardiac pacemakers: Overdrive suppression". Circulation Research. 41 (3): 269–77. doi:10.1161/01.res.41.3.269. PMID 330018.
  13. ^ Irisawa, H; Brown, HF; Giles, W (1993). "Cardiac pacemaking in the sinoatrial node". Physiol Rev. 73 (1): 197–227. doi:10.1152/physrev.1993.73.1.197. PMID 8380502.
  14. ^ DiFrancesco, D (2010). "The role of the funny current in pacemaker activity". Circulation Research. 106 (3): 434–46. doi:10.1161/circresaha.109.208041. PMID 20167941.
  15. ^ Joung, B.; Chen, P.; Lin, S. (2011). "The role of the calcium and the voltage clocks in sinoatrial node dysfunction". Yonsei Medical Journal. 52 (2): 211–9. doi:10.3349/ymj.2011.52.2.211. PMC 3051220. PMID 21319337.
  16. ^ Verkerk, A., Borren, van, Peters, R., Broekhuis, E., Lam, K., Coronel, R., Bakker, de, Tan, H. and Wilders, R. (2007) 'Single cells isolated from human sinoatrial node: Action potentials and numerical reconstruction of pacemaker current', Conference proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual Conference., 2007, pp. 904–7.
  17. ^ Clark, R.B.; Mangoni, M.E.; Lueger, A.; Couette, B.; Nargeot, J.; Giles, W.R. (2004). "A rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ current reg-ulates pacemaker activity in adult mouse sinoatrial node cells". American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 286 (5): 1757–1766. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00753.2003. PMID 14693686. S2CID 476037.
  18. ^ Gordan, R.; Gwathmey, J.K.; Xie, L.-H. (2015). "Autonomic and endocrine control of cardiovascular function". World Journal of Cardiology. 7 (4): 204–14. doi:10.4330/wjc.v7.i4.204. PMC 4404375. PMID 25914789.
  19. ^ Larsson, P.H. (2010) 'How is the heart rate regulated in the sinoatrial node? Another piece to the puzzle', 136(3).
  20. ^ Osterrieder W., Noma A., Trautwein W. (1980) On the kinetics of the potassium current activated by acetylcholine in the SA node of the rabbit heart. Pflügers Arch. 386:101–109.
  21. ^ Sinus node dysfunction Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
  22. ^ Junctional Rhythm at eMedicine
  23. ^ Silverman, M.E.; Hollman, A. (1 October 2007). "Discovery of the sinus node by Keith and Flack: on the centennial of their 1907 publication". Heart. 93 (10): 1184–1187. doi:10.1136/hrt.2006.105049. PMC 2000948. PMID 17890694.
  24. ^ Boyett MR, Dobrzynski H (June 2007). "The sinoatrial node is still setting the pace 100 years after its discovery". Circ. Res. 100 (11): 1543–5. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.107.101101. PMID 17556667. S2CID 17882001.
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