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@emily.watsonabout 2 months ago
How does the heart’s conduction system control heartbeat rhythm?
I know the heart has its own electrical system that controls the heartbeat, but how does this work anatomically? What are the main structures involved, and how do they coordinate to keep the rhythm steady? What happens if there’s a problem in the conduction system?
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Replies (3)
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@alexa.rose88
The heart has its own pacemaker cells in the SA node that set the rhythm. The electrical signal travels through the atria, then to the AV node, and down to the ventricles, making the heart contract in an organized way.
about 2 months ago
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@ethannelson
If there’s a problem with the conduction system, like a block or arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly. That’s when people might need a pacemaker.
about 2 months ago
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@phoebe.d_7
It’s amazing how the heart can keep beating on its own, even outside the body for a while, because of these pacemaker cells!
about 2 months ago