Electrical Conduction pathway of the heart: heart beat is regulated by electrical impulses heart beat is regulated by electrical impulses

SA node impulse begins in SA (sinoatrial node; normal rate 60 – 100 BPM) impulse begins in SA (sinoatrial node; normal rate 60 – 100 BPM) group of nerve cells located in right atrium group of nerve cells located in right atrium “pacemaker” of the heart “pacemaker” of the heart sends out electrical impulses that spread out over muscles in the atria sends out electrical impulses that spread out over muscles in the atria electrical impulse causes atria to contract and push blood into ventricles electrical impulse causes atria to contract and push blood into ventricles electrical impulse then travels to AV (atrioventricular) node electrical impulse then travels to AV (atrioventricular) node

AV node group of cells located between atria and ventricles (normal rate 40 – 60 BPM) group of cells located between atria and ventricles (normal rate 40 – 60 BPM) AV node sends electrical impulse through nerve fibers in the septum called the Bundle of His AV node sends electrical impulse through nerve fibers in the septum called the Bundle of His

Bundle of His nerve fibers in the septum nerve fibers in the septum divides into right and left bundle branches divides into right and left bundle branches

Right and left bundle branches pathways that carry the electrical impulse down through the ventricles pathways that carry the electrical impulse down through the ventricles bundles continue to subdivide into network of nerve fibers throughout ventricles called Perkinje fibers bundles continue to subdivide into network of nerve fibers throughout ventricles called Perkinje fibers

Perkinje fibers final fibers on electrical conduction pathway (normal rate 20 – 40 BPM) final fibers on electrical conduction pathway (normal rate 20 – 40 BPM) spread electrical impulses to all of the muscle tissue in the ventricles spread electrical impulses to all of the muscle tissue in the ventricles ventricles then contract ventricles then contract /health/health- topics/topics/hhw/electric al.html /health/health- topics/topics/hhw/electric al.html /health/health- topics/topics/hhw/electric al.html /health/health- topics/topics/hhw/electric al.html

EKG or ECG (electrocardiogram) electrical conduction pattern occurs about every 0.8 seconds electrical conduction pattern occurs about every 0.8 seconds EKG or ECG (electrocardiogram): machine that monitors and records electrical impulses in the heart; used to detect abnormal heart activity or disease EKG or ECG (electrocardiogram): machine that monitors and records electrical impulses in the heart; used to detect abnormal heart activity or disease

EKG

p, qrs, t waves p wave: Atrial depolarization or contraction p wave: Atrial depolarization or contraction qrs complex: ventricular depolarization or contraction qrs complex: ventricular depolarization or contraction t wave: ventricular relaxation t wave: ventricular relaxation

Cardiac cycle Conists of mechanical and electrical conduction Conists of mechanical and electrical conduction Both must function properly for normal cardiac output Both must function properly for normal cardiac output