Conducting System of the Heart: Components and Function

The heart's ability to pump blood effectively is regulated by a specialized conduction system that generates and propagates electrical impulses. This ensures synchronized contraction of the heart chambers, maintaining proper circulation.

Components of the Conducting System

• Sinoatrial (SA) Node: The primary pacemaker, located in the right atrium, initiating electrical impulses.
• Atrioventricular (AV) Node: Delays impulses before they travel to the ventricles, allowing atrial contraction to complete.
• Bundle of His: Conducts impulses from the AV node to the ventricles.
• Right and Left Bundle Branches: Distribute impulses along both ventricles.
• Purkinje Fibers: Facilitate rapid electrical transmission ensuring ventricular contraction.

Function of the Conducting System

The system coordinates atrial and ventricular contractions through sequential depolarization. The SA node sets the rhythm, while conduction pathways ensure efficient impulse transmission.

Heart Sounds and Electrical Activity

Heartbeat sounds—'lub' and 'dub'—correspond to valve closures, occurring in synchrony with electrical impulses monitored via ECG.

Conclusion

Understanding the heart's conduction system is fundamental to diagnosing and managing arrhythmias, heart block, and other cardiac disorders.