Basics CICR

• • calcium induced calcium release (CICR) is a mechanism that underpins normal cardiac function at rest and can be scaled up to significantly boost the force of ventricular contraction on exercise and during other forms of stress
• When CICR happens:

  • all the time/every time an action potential depolarises a sarcolemma
  • but CICR can be enhanced to our advantage when necessary
• • if theres an increase influx of calcium ions from the extracellular fluid, there will be more calcium ions binding to troponin, so more crossbridge formation, so a higher force of contraction