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Conduction System of the Heart

Conduction System of the Heart

The cardiac conduction system produces and transmits electrical impulses that prompt myocardial contraction, ensuring efficient heart function. This intricate system ensures that the heart beats in a coordinated and efficient manner, beginning with the atria and then the ventricles. The conduction system optimizes cardiac output by maintaining this precise sequence, which is crucial for adequate blood circulation.
This system relies on the unique properties of nodal and Purkinje cells:...

Conduction System of the Heart

Conduction System of the Heart

Autorhythmicity is a term that refers to the heart's inherent ability to generate electrical signals and instigate muscle contractions. This self-regulating conduction system within the heart consists of two key components: the pacemaker cells and specialized conducting cells.
The pacemaker cells are located in two primary nodes: the sinoatrial (SA) node and the atrioventricular (AV) node. The SA node pacemaker cells can autonomously depolarize, triggering an action potential that leads to the...

Development of the Heart

Development of the Heart

The development of the human heart, a crucial organ, commences from the mesoderm on the 18th or 19th day after fertilization. This process initiates in the cardiogenic area, a group of mesodermal cells at the embryo's head end, which evolves into elongated strands known as cardiogenic cords. These cords undergo a transformation to form hollow-centered endocardial tubes.
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart tube by...

Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm

Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm

The normal cardiac rhythm is a synchronized electrical activity that facilitates the regular and coordinated contraction of the heart muscle. This process is essential for efficient blood circulation throughout the body. The fundamental elements involved in establishing and maintaining this rhythm include the unique electrical properties of cardiac muscle cells, the sinoatrial (SA) node's pacemaker function, the specialized conducting system, and the ionic mechanisms underlying each phase of...

Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Arrhythmias are irregular heart rhythms occurring when the heart's electrical impulses become abnormal. These disturbances can lead to various symptoms, depending on their severity and the underlying cause. Some common factors contributing to arrhythmias include hypoxia, ischemia, electrolyte imbalances, excessive catecholamine exposure, drug toxicity, and muscle overstretching. Arrhythmias can be classified into two main types based on the rate and site of origin of abnormal heart rhythms.

The Cardiac Cycle

The Cardiac Cycle

The heart beats rhythmically in a sequence called the cardiac cycle—a rapid coordination of contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole).
The Process
Electrical signals—sent from the sinoatrial (SA) node in the right atrial wall to the atrioventricular (AV) node between the right atrium and right ventricle—cause both atria to simultaneously contract. When the signal reaches the AV node, it pauses for approximately a tenth of a second, allowing the atria to contract and empty blood into the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Generation of Murine Cardiac Pacemaker Cell Aggregates Based on ES-Cell-Programming in Combination with Myh6-Promoter-Selection

Generation of Murine Cardiac Pacemaker Cell Aggregates Based on ES-Cell-Programming in Combination with Myh6-Promoter-Selection

Published on: February 17, 2015

The atrioventricular node: origin, development, and genetic program.

Martijn L Bakker¹, Antoon F M Moorman, Vincent M Christoffels

¹Heart Failure Research Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine

|July 12, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The atrioventricular node, crucial for heart rhythm, develops from specific embryonic cells activating a neurogenic gene program. Understanding its development is key to addressing heart conduction disorders.

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Generation of Murine Cardiac Pacemaker Cell Aggregates Based on ES-Cell-Programming in Combination with Myh6-Promoter-Selection

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Area of Science:

Cardiology
Developmental Biology
Electrophysiology

Background:

The heart's electrical conduction system, including the sinus and atrioventricular nodes, regulates heart rhythm.
The atrioventricular node delays electrical impulses, ensuring proper ventricular filling and protecting against rapid atrial rates.
Defects in this system can lead to arrhythmias like atrioventricular block, necessitating pacemakers.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the developmental origins and molecular mechanisms of the atrioventricular node.
To understand the cellular and genetic basis of conduction system development.
To elucidate the factors contributing to arrhythmias originating from the atrioventricular conduction system.

Main Methods:

Utilized lineage and expressional analyses in embryonic models.
Examined precursor cell populations within the embryonic atrioventricular canal.
Investigated gene expression patterns, including cardiogenic and neurogenic programs.

Main Results:

Identified a specific subpopulation of precursor cells in the dorsal embryonic atrioventricular canal as the origin of the atrioventricular node.
These precursor cells differentiate early and exhibit both cardiogenic and neurogenic gene programs.
Demonstrated that these cells are less differentiated than the working myocardium.

Conclusions:

The atrioventricular node arises from distinct precursor cells with a dual gene expression profile.
Elucidating the developmental pathways of the atrioventricular node is crucial for understanding and potentially treating conduction system disorders.
Further research into the molecular composition and phenotype of these cells is warranted.