The heart's conduction system is a complex set of cells and tissues that control the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. It is essential for life. The conduction system ensures that the heart beats at the correct rate and with the right rhythm so that blood is pumped around the body properly and efficiently.
Understanding how the cardiac conduction system works can be complicated, but it is essential to understand the fundamentals of this system in order to ensure that our hearts are pumping correctly. In this guide, we will explore the anatomy of the cardiac conduction system, as well as its function and components.
The cardiac conduction system is a complex electrical network that controls the rate and rhythm of the heart. It enables the heart to contract and relax in a coordinated way and is responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood throughout your body.
The cardiac conduction system includes a group of specialized cells, called pacemaker cells, which send out electrical signals that cause the heart muscle to contract. The pacemaker cells are located in areas called sinoatrial (SA) node, atrioventricular (AV) node, bundle of His, and Purkinje fibers. Each of these structures has an important role in maintaining the cardiac cycle.
The SA node is the primary pacemaker of the heart. It is located in the right atrium at the top of the heart and sends out electrical impulses spontaneously at a regular interval. These impulses spread across the atria and stimulate it to contract. This is known as atrial systole.
The AV node is the secondary pacemaker of the heart. It is located in the center of the heart and receives the electrical impulse from the SA node. The AV node delays the impulse slightly, allowing the atria to finish contracting before the impulse is sent to the ventricles. This allows for effective blood flow from the atria to the ventricles.
The bundle of His is a narrow bundle of specialized pacemaker cells that runs down the septum, or middle wall, of the heart. It receives the delayed electrical impulse from the AV node and passes it to the Purkinje Fibers, which spread the signal throughout the ventricles causing them to contract. This is known as ventricular systole.
The Purkinje Fibers are a network of specialized pacemaker cells that spread the electrical impulse from the bundle of His throughout the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Together, the SA node, AV node, bundle of His, and Purkinje Fibers make up the complete cardiac conduction system.
The heart�s conduction system is an amazing and complex thing which is responsible for the beating of the heart. It works by using electrical signals which travel through the heart to make it contract and pump oxygenated blood throughout the body. In order for the electrical signals to be conducted properly, there needs to be a coordinated cycle which ensures that these signals travel in the right order.
At the beginning of each beat, the sinoatrial node, or SAN, sends off an electrical signal which travels through the atrioventricular node, or AVN, and then the bundle of His. This signal then continues on to the purkinje fibres, before travelling to the ventricles. All together, this is known as the cardiac conduction cycle.
The SAN is located in the upper right atrium. It is a group of cells which generates electrical impulses on its own, without any outside help. This signal then carries on down a specialized pathway, first to the lower left atrium, then down the AVN, and then to the bundle of His.
The AVN is also found in the lower left atrium and is responsible for regulating the rhythm of the heart beat. Once it receives the signal from the SAN, it slows down the electrical signal before pushing it along. The bundle of His is a group of fibers which connect the AVN to the ventricles.
Finally, the signal passes through the purkinje fibres, which are a set of thread-like cells in the ventricles. These cells spread the signal quickly throughout the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood out.
By understanding the cardiac conduction cycle, we can better understand how the heart works and why it is so important for our overall health and wellbeing.
The sinoatrial node, also known as the SAN, is responsible for generating the electrical impulse that makes the heart beat. It is located in the upper wall of the right atrium, the larger of the two upper chambers of the heart. When it�s triggered, the SAN starts a chain reaction that causes all four valves of the heart to open and close in a certain order.
The SAN increases its pace when stimulated by the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for involuntary body processes like breathing, digestion, and heartbeat. But it usually beats 60-100 times a minute in a resting state.
The SAN is composed of a group of specialized cardiac cells that produce an uncoordinated wave of electrical activity. This wave spreads throughout the atria, triggering them to contract. The electrical wave then passes through the atrioventricular node, where it is slightly delayed before traveling on to the bundle of His, and then the Purkinje Fibers. This entire process is known as the cardiac conduction cycle.
The Atrioventricular Node (AVN) is a small mass of specialized cells located in the wall between the right atrium and the right ventricle. This node works as a gatekeeper, controlling the flow of electrical impulses from the top chambers of the heart (atria) to the lower chambers (ventricles).
The AVN functions by receiving electrical signals from the Sinoatrial Node (SAN) and delays them for approximately 0.12 second before sending them to the Bundle of His and subsequently down to the Purkinje Fibres.
This delay gives the ventricles time to fill with blood before being pumped out of the heart. This process is essential for the smooth pumping of blood around the body.
The Bundle of His is an important part of the heart's electrical conduction system and it�s located right at the center of the heart. The Bundle of His is named after the German physician Wilhelm His who discovered it in 1893.
The Bundle of His consists of specialized fibers, which separate themselves into two main branches: the right bundle branch and the left bundle branch.
These two branches carry electrical signals from the AVN to the ventricles. This triggers the contraction of the ventricles and ensures the proper functioning of the heart.
The cardiac conduction system is made up of four major components; the sinoatrial node (SAN), the atrioventricular node (AVN), the bundle of His, and the Purkinje fibres. The last of these components, the Purkinje fibres, are located throughout the ventricular walls.
These special type of heart cells play a very important role in the cardiac cycle, which is the mechanism of heart contractions. They carry the electrical signal that leaves the AVN and are responsible for depolarising the entire ventricles in order to allow contraction. The Purkinje fibres are therefore responsible for the rapid, uniform contraction of the ventricles.
The location of the Purkinje fibres within the heart means they carry the electrical signals quickly to all parts of the ventricular walls. This ensures that there is an even contraction of the ventricles, resulting in a more efficient pumping of the blood from the heart.
The Purkinje fibres have a unique conduction speed and action potential duration as compared to other cardiac cells. This allows them to propagate faster than any other cardiac cells and hence enable a more uniform, rapid contraction of the ventricles.
