The atrioventricular (AV) node which is located in the right atrium. From there is travels down the septum, also called the atrioventricular bundle, and then spreads to all parts of the ventricles via the Purkinje fibers.
Fibers of the conduction system of the heart is called Purkinje fibers
The cardiac conduction system is the conducting system of the heart.
Sa node
Normal impulse conduction
The atrioventricular node and the bundle of HIS are the electrical conduction link between the atria and the ventricles.
Sinoatrial (SA) Node
pacemaker cells
Pacemaker cells and node cells are not exactly the same, but they are closely related. Pacemaker cells are specialized cardiac muscle cells responsible for initiating and regulating the heartbeat, primarily found in the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is the heart's primary pacemaker. The term "node cells" typically refers to the cells within the SA node and the atrioventricular (AV) node, both of which play critical roles in the conduction system of the heart. Thus, while all pacemaker cells are node cells, not all node cells are pacemaker cells.
The SA node (Sinoatrial node) sets the pace for the heart as a whole because no other region of the conduction system or the myocardium has a faster depolarization rate. For this reason, it is the heart's pacemaker.
The sinoatrial (SA) node has the fastest intrinsic rate in the cardiac conduction system, typically firing at a rate of 60-100 beats per minute in a healthy heart. It serves as the primary pacemaker of the heart, initiating each heartbeat by generating electrical impulses.
The conduction system of the heart consists primarily of specialized cardiac muscle cells known as pacemaker cells and conduction fibers. Pacemaker cells, such as those found in the sinoatrial (SA) node, initiate electrical impulses that regulate the heartbeat. Conduction fibers, including the atrioventricular (AV) node, bundle of His, and Purkinje fibers, transmit these impulses throughout the heart, ensuring coordinated contractions. Together, these cells facilitate the rhythmic and efficient pumping of blood.
SAN >internodal pathway> AVN> AV/Hiss bundle> bundle branches> purkinje fibres
The atrioventricular (AV) node is a critical component of the heart's conduction system, responsible for regulating the timing of electrical signals between the atria and ventricles. However, it does not work directly with sensory cells in arteries to regulate the pacemaker. Instead, the primary pacemaker of the heart is the sinoatrial (SA) node, which generates electrical impulses that initiate heartbeats. Sensory cells in arteries, such as baroreceptors, help regulate blood pressure and heart rate indirectly by sending signals to the central nervous system, which can influence the heart's pacemaker activity.
Radiation, Conduction, and Convection.
The intrinsic conduction system of the heart consists of several key components: the sinoatrial (SA) node, which acts as the primary pacemaker; the atrioventricular (AV) node, which serves as a gatekeeper to control electrical impulses between the atria and ventricles; the bundle of His (AV bundle), which transmits signals from the AV node; and the Purkinje fibers, which distribute the impulses throughout the ventricles, ensuring coordinated contraction. This system regulates the heart's rhythm and maintains efficient blood flow.
The characteristic specific to the pacemaker sites of the electrical conduction system, such as the sinoatrial (SA) node, is their ability to generate spontaneous action potentials due to a unique set of ion channels. These specialized cells have a higher resting membrane potential and exhibit automaticity, allowing them to depolarize and initiate electrical impulses without external stimulation. This intrinsic rhythmicity is crucial for maintaining the heart's regular beating pattern.
In a normal heart, the sinoatrial (SA) node sets the pace of contraction as it acts as the primary pacemaker. Located in the right atrium, the SA node generates electrical impulses that initiate each heartbeat, prompting the atria to contract. These impulses then travel to the atrioventricular (AV) node, which conducts the signals to the ventricles, ensuring coordinated contractions throughout the heart. This intrinsic conduction system allows for a rhythmic and effective pumping action.