Cardiac Conduction System.
A netwok of specialized muscle tissue that deliver electrical impulses throughout the myocardium--The middle wall of the heart.
SA Node (Sinoatrial)
AV Node (Atrioventricular)
AV Bundle (aka bundle of his)
Purkinje Fibers
SA Node (Sinoatrial)
AV Node (Atrioventricular)
AV Bundle (aka bundle of his)
Purkinje Fibers
SA Node.
Located neat the opening of the superior vena cava in the right atrium. The node initiates about 80 impulses each minute and is often referred to as "pace maker". It causes simultaneous contraction of the left and right atria.
AV Node.
Near the septum that separates two atria. The impulses from SA node travel to the AV node, then pass through the AV bundle. Then, down the interventricular septum and branches into two pathways.
AV Bundle.
The AV bundle then splits into purkinje fibers which wrap around the ventricles and cause ventricular systole. Purkinje fibers cause papillary muscles to contract and pull on the chordae tendinae to prevent blood from flowing into the atria.