<P> The ions move from areas where they are concentrated to where they are not . For this reason sodium moves into the cell from outside, and potassium moves from within the cell to outside the cell . Calcium also plays a critical role . Their influx through slow channels means that the sinoatrial cells have a prolonged "plateau" phase when they have a positive charge . A part of this is called the absolute refractory period . Calcium ions also combine with the regulatory protein troponin C in the troponin complex to enable contraction of the cardiac muscle, and separate from the protein to allow relaxation . </P> <P> The adult resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 bpm . The resting heart rate of a newborn can be 129 beats per minute (bpm) and this gradually decreases until maturity . An athlete's heart rate can be lower than 60 bpm . During exercise the rate can be 150 bpm with maximum rates reaching from 200 to 220 bpm . </P> <P> The normal sinus rhythm of the heart, giving the resting heart rate, is influenced a number of factors . The cardiovascular centres in the brainstem that control the sympathetic and parasympathetic influences to the heart through the vagus nerve and sympathetic trunk . These cardiovascular centres receive input from a series of receptors including baroreceptors, sensing stretch the stretching of blood vessels and chemoreceptors, sensing the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and its pH . Through a series of reflexes these help regulate and sustain blood flow . </P> <P> Baroreceptors are stretch receptors located in the aortic sinus, carotid bodies, the venae cavae, and other locations, including pulmonary vessels and the right side of the heart itself . Baroreceptors fire at a rate determined by how much they are stretched, which is influenced by blood pressure, level of physical activity, and the relative distribution of blood . With increased pressure and stretch, the rate of baroreceptor firing increases, and the cardiac centers decrease sympathetic stimulation and increase parasympathetic stimulation . As pressure and stretch decrease, the rate of baroreceptor firing decreases, and the cardiac centers increase sympathetic stimulation and decrease parasympathetic stimulation . There is a similar reflex, called the atrial reflex or Bainbridge reflex, associated with varying rates of blood flow to the atria . Increased venous return stretches the walls of the atria where specialized baroreceptors are located . However, as the atrial baroreceptors increase their rate of firing and as they stretch due to the increased blood pressure, the cardiac center responds by increasing sympathetic stimulation and inhibiting parasympathetic stimulation to increase heart rate . The opposite is also true . Chemoreceptors present in the carotid body or adjacent to the aorta in an aortic body respond to the blood's oxygen, carbon dioxide levels . Low oxygen or high carbon dioxide will stimulate firing of the receptors . </P>

Refers to figure 4 what parts of the human heart do you see