electrical conduction of heart

ChicagolandRN · Nov 23, 2003

I always thought it helps to draw a picture. Also, the cardiac conduction always reminded me of a track team running a relay race. Hope that helps.

Love-A-Nurse · Nov 23, 2003

it would help me if i knew what you understand regarding it. the little i do know/understand i will help or at best we will learn together with the help of others.

DustinRN · Nov 23, 2003

I don't know if you just have no clue about the conduction pathway or if you just need a little help understanding the direction of the conductions.

The conduction system begins with the:

Sinoatrial Node (SA node) which is responsible for atrial contraction. The normal intrinsic rate of the SA node is 60-100 beats per minute. As long as your SA node beats effectively or within these ranges no other area of the heart feels the need to fire an impulse, which could lead to some type of arrthymia.

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Atrioventricular Node (AV node) known as the gatekeeper. The function of the AV node is to act as a gatekeeper and briefly delay the impulses coming from the SA node, to allow the atria to contract completely and empty all of the blood into the ventricles. Provided that the SA Node does all it is supposed to do, the AV node just conducts impulses sent from the SA node. The AV node fires at an intrinsic of 40-60 beats per minute.

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The AV node then conducts impulses to the Bundle of His. The Bundle of His carries the impulses from the AV node to the right and left bundle branches. Eventually the impulse travels to the Purkinje Fibers. To contract fully, the ventricles require the assistance of the right and left bundle branches and the Purkinje Fibers.

Let me know if I have helped you at all or if I have totally confused you. If you would like to elaborate more about what you don't understand I would be more than happy to help you.

PS-Excuse any of the grammar of this post that may not be grammatically correct. I have been watching my college football team whoop the Chickens 63-17 and I'm a little inebriated!!! Go Tigers!!!!!!!!!

mario_ragucci · Nov 23, 2003

Dustin did right with the explanition. It's only recent we have been touching on our heart's electrical system. Back in the mid-1800's this ITALIAN guy named Volta watched hanging frogs legs jump during a thunderstorm in ITALY. Volta knew there was electricity in our bodies (and in the frogs legs) and electricity made the muscles move, but scientists didn't know much about electricity to begin with. They called it "animal electricity" and Volta shocked alota people when he showed the frogs legs jump when a charge was introduced. Back then, folks thought the electricity in a frogs leg was different from electricity in a Leyden Jar, or in lightning, LOL. Volta later went on to show how piling different chemical substances onto each other can store a charge, and made the first battery. I'm not foot stomping over a key Italian scientist. It was just 150 years ago and no one knew electricity in the body is all the same with electricity everywhere, ie, electricity obeys laws of matter.

How your heart behaves electrically begins with certain elements in our bodies that have positive and negative charges. I think the concentration of Ca and K and NaCl has something to do with it.

The uniform spreading of the charge through your heart to achieve the greatest ejectrion fraction is intesting. But what is really interesting is to think of the body as a big battery, and your heart is this beautiful red lightbulb with LOVE written on it. In order for the battery to light up the light the best, it has to have the right chemicals in it for the generation of electricity from all over your body to your heart.

Space Cadet Glow

unknown99, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2003

thanks all!!!

DUSTIN, it did help. I think I can go pass that final now!!!

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Nov 23, 2003

Thanks Dustin for a great job---my rusty brain cells seemed to blink YES, THAT'S IT when I saw your explanation.