Learning about the Heart's Electrical System

The heart's electrical system plays a vital role in the organ's operation. It regulates the initiation and propagation of the cardiac impulses that cause your heart to beat.

According to the top cardiologist in Kolkata, an electrocardiogram (EKG) records the path of electrical impulses travelling through the heart. The EKG is also used to diagnose heart electrical system abnormalities and their associated symptoms and health problems.

Where in the Heart Do Electrical Impulses Originate?

The heart's electrical signal is completely autonomous. The sinus node is a small structure in the right atrial septum that generates this electrical impulse. There are two upper atria and two lower ventricles, in addition to the four heart chambers and associated valves, of which the right atrium is one.

Two mechanisms under the electrical signal's control govern the heartbeat. First, the heart rate is proportional to the number of electrical impulses per minute. If you have a sinus rhythm, this rate should be somewhere between 60 and 100 per minute.

When it "spreads" across the heart, the sinus node signal controls the heart's electrical conduction. The result is a heart that beats regularly, efficiently, and in unison, triggering healthy contractions of the heart muscle. The sinus node controls the heart's electrical activity, making it the "natural pacemaker" of the cardiovascular system.

How Does the Heart's Electrical Conduction System Work, and What Does It Consist Of?

1. Sinoatrial Node

A network of cells called the sinoatrial (SA) node serves as the heart's natural pacemaker. Your SA node can be found in the wall of your right atrium. At this point, the heart's upper chambers start to contract.

2. Atrioventricular Node

The wall that separates your heart's upper chambers is where you'll find the atrioventricular (AV) node. This node is quite similar to the SA node, except it is physically smaller and has a lower electrical conductivity. The ventricles are given more time to expand and fill with blood, thanks to the slowing effect.

3. Bundle of His

A cluster of cells surrounds the AV node called the Bundle of His (pronounced "hiss"), which runs down the centre of your heart. These act like lightning rods, funnelling the electrical current deeper into the heart due to their superior conductivity to the surrounding tissue.

4. Bundle Branches

The Bundle of His divides into two branches: the bundle branches. The separation occurs roughly at the same level as that which separates the upper and lower chambers of the heart. The branches carry the electrical cascade to the heart's outer regions, most notably the ventricles.

5. Purkinje Fibres

The Purkinje fibres are a web-like network of conducting segments formed as the bundle branches expand. The “His-Purkinje” system, consisting of the Bundle of His, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibres, is commonly depicted as an inverted umbrella. The Purkinje fibres form the umbrella's canopy, while the Bundle of His is the handle.

The heart's base is a conduction and radiation zone for electrical current. The current then ascends and courses along the heart's periphery. This is how blood is pumped out of the heart and into the body.

Conclusion

The heart's electrical conduction system is essential to your survival and operates on autopilot. Knowing how it functions allows you to anticipate issues and get care before they become serious. A cardiologist may prescribe anything from medicine to a minimally invasive operation to address or even cure electrical abnormalities in the heart.

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