THE HEART CONDUCTING SYSTEM

The Conducting System & ECG

Although the heart is an amazing piece of biological engineering, it needs a constant source of stimulation for it to work in a synchronous manner. Within the heart, there are groups of specialized cells which are responsible for conducting tiny electrical impulses to various areas of the heart in order to stimulate the pumping mechanism. The heart’s natural pacemaker is called the Sinoatrial node, and is located in the right atria. This node sends out an impulse which travels to another group of cells called the Atrioventricular node. The AV node lies at the bottom of the right atria. The impulse then leaves the AV node, travels down the nerve fibres into the right and left ventricle where they spread rapidly across the ventricles causing the muscle fibres to contract. This contraction is responsible for ejection of blood into the aorta and around the body. These impulses can be monitored on an ECG. Depending on the waveforms produced, cardiologists can diagnose different abnormalities and arthymmias of the heart. For more information please click here.