Patient Education
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Electrical System of the Heart
In the normal heart, electrical impulses pace the rhythm at which the heart contracts and relaxes. The sinoatrial (SA) node triggers the electrical impulse, causing the upper chambers (atria) to contract. The signal travels through the atrioventricular (AV) node to the atrioventricular bundle, which divides into the Purkinje fibers. The fibers carry the signal and cause the lower chambers (ventricles) to contract.
The electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG) tracing above reflects this normal electrical activity.
Current as of: July 31, 2024
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
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