Cardiac Conduction Velocity Overview

What is the average conduction velocity through the sinoatrial node?

At which part of the heart does the conduction wave slow down the most?

What primarily influences cardiac conduction velocity?

What is the conduction velocity through the His and Purkinje fibers?

How long does it take for the depolarization wave to travel through the entire cardiac conduction system?

Why is the slowdown of the conduction wave at the AV node significant?

What is the conduction velocity of the wave through the ventricular myocytes?

What ion is primarily responsible for triggering action potentials in myocardial cells?

Which factor would most likely slow down the conduction velocity in the heart?

Cardiac Conduction Velocity

Speed of the depolarization wave through the myocardium is measured in meters per second.
The conduction pathway includes the sinoatrial node (SA node), atria, atrioventricular node (AV node), Bundle of His, and Purkinje fibers, completing in roughly 220 milliseconds.

Cellular Processes

Depolarization waves travel across neighboring myocardial cells via gap junctions.
Calcium and sodium ions trigger voltage-gated sodium channels, initiating action potentials.
Sodium influx into cells spurs further action potentials in adjacent cells, propagating the depolarization wave.

Factors Affecting Conduction Velocity

Presence of sodium channels and gap junctions influences conduction speed; more enhances velocity, fewer slows it.

Breakdown of Conduction Velocities

SA Node: Depolarization wave moves through atria at approximately 1 meter per second.
AV Node: Speed reduces to about 0.01 to 0.05 meters per second, accounting for nearly half of the 220 milliseconds despite its short length.
His and Purkinje Fibers: Conduction accelerates to 2-4 meters per second, representing the fastest phase.

Importance of the Slowdown at the AV Node

The AV node’s slowdown is crucial for blood flow; it allows atrial contraction to fill ventricles while they are relaxed, ensuring efficient blood ejection.

Ventricular Depolarization

Upon reaching the ventricles, conduction continues at roughly 1 meter per second through ventricular myocytes.

Summary

Cardiac conduction velocity is vital for effective heart pumping, influenced by sodium channels, gap junctions, and tissue types, facilitating coordinated contractions and optimal blood flow.

Explore the fundamental concepts of cardiac conduction velocity, including the pathways and cellular processes that enable depolarization within the heart. Learn how different factors influence the speed of conduction and discover specific rates associated with each key node. This quiz will enhance your understanding of myocardial electrical activity and its implications for heart function.