Cardiac Conduction and Contraction

Flashcards covering cardiac electrical conduction, electrocardiogram wave readings, and the phases of the cardiac cycle.

Where is the atrioventricular (AV) node located?

The AV node is located on the floor of the right atrium near the interatrial septum.

Where is the bundle of His located within the heart?

It is located within the interventricular septum.

Who is the bundle of His named after?

It is named after German cardiologist Wilhelm His.

What are Purkinje fibers and where are they located?

They are specialized conductive fibers located within the walls of the ventricles.

Who are the Purkinje fibers named after?

They are named for Schach physiologist Jan Purkinje.

What is the result of the electrical stimulation relayed by the Purkinje fibers?

It causes the ventricles to contract, which forces blood out of the heart and into the aorta and pulmonary arteries.

What does the term sinus rhythm refer to?

It refers to a normal beating of the heart.

What activity causes the P wave on an electrocardiogram?

The P wave is due to the stimulation or contraction of the atria.

What does the QRS complex represent on an electrocardiogram?

It shows a stimulation or contraction of the ventricles.

What does the T wave represent on an electrocardiogram?

The T wave is the recovery or relaxation of the ventricles.

What is the cardiac cycle?

It is one complete heartbeat during which deoxygenated blood is converted to oxygenated blood in the lungs and pumped by the heart to the body.

What is Cystole (the systolic phase)?

It is the period of contraction that the ventricles undergo while pumping blood to the aorta and the pulmonary artery.

What is diastole (the diastolic phase)?

It is a period of relaxation that follows as the chambers refill of blood.