You and your lab partner are doing an experiment in physiology lab.Each of you has an isolated muscle cell and you are supposed to stimulate it with an electrode as soon as its absolute refractory period ends.You're watching an electromyograph tracing to know when to use the electrode.Your partner has a cardiac muscle cell and you have a skeletal muscle cell.Which one of you will use your electrode more times in one minute?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In cardiac muscle cells, the absolute refractory period is longer than in skeletal muscle cells. Therefore, your partner will have to wait longer to stimulate their cardiac muscle cell. In contrast, the absolute refractory period in skeletal muscle cells is shorter, so you will be able to stimulate your muscle cell more frequently, resulting in using the electrode more times in a minute than your partner.

You and Your Lab Partner Are Doing an Experiment in Physiology