CVS Practice Test

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What characterizes the resting membrane potential of pacemaker cells?

Constant at -70 mV

Fluctuates with activity

Is distinctly negative with no true value

The resting membrane potential of pacemaker cells is characterized by a distinctly negative value, reflecting their natural ability to generate rhythmic electrical activity without a true stable value. Unlike typical cells that maintain a more constant resting membrane potential, pacemaker cells, found in the heart, do not hold a fixed value. Instead, they exhibit a gradual depolarization during the diastolic phase, known as the pacemaker potential, which leads to the initiation of action potentials.

This unique characteristic allows pacemaker cells to continuously and spontaneously depolarize, making them essential for establishing the heart's rhythmic contractions. While options that suggest a constant or stable resting potential imply a steady state, pacemaker cells are inherently designed for fluctuation in their membrane potential to facilitate the heart's automaticity.

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Remains stable and unchanging

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