AV node
Gatekeeper of heart; determines what impulses go through (40-60bpm); relays electrical impulses from atria into ventricles
The AV node, or atrioventricular node, is a specialized tissue located in the lower part of the right atrium of the heart. It serves as the electrical gateway to the ventricles, which are the main pumping chambers of the heart. The AV node receives electrical impulses from the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is the natural pacemaker of the heart located in the right atrium. After the impulses reach the AV node, they are slowed down to allow time for the atria to contract and fill the ventricles with blood before the ventricles contract. This delay ensures proper coordination of the heartbeat and prevents the ventricles from contracting too soon. The AV node also sends the electrical impulses to the ventricles through a specialized bundle of fibers called the His-Purkinje system, which allows for rapid and coordinated contraction of the ventricles.
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