Anaesthesia Fundamentals | Anatomy | Conducting System of the Heart

Conducting System of the Heart
Session Overview
Description
In this session you will learn about the conducting system of the heart, including its association with contraction of the heart chambers, electrocardiogram (ECG) trace and associated arrhythmias.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Identify the structure of the conducting system of the heart
• Describe how the conducting system governs heart muscle contraction
• Recognize how the conducting system generates the electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Identify how arrhythmias develop

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should:

• Have a knowledge of the electrocardiogram (ECG)

The heart beats as a result of the generation and conduction of electrical impulses. Cardiac conduction is the rate at which the heart conducts electrical impulses. These impulses cause the heart to contract and then relax. The constant cycle of heart muscle contraction followed by relaxation causes blood to be pumped round the body.