How does the human heart beat?

It’s a question that’s not often asked because the process itself seems as natural as breathing: How does the heart beat? Part of the answer to this question is it’s made possible by the heart’s electrical system, which is critical to the function of the organ in that it determines the heart rate and coordinates the beating of heart muscles, according to cardiac electrophysiologist Ian Weisberg, M.D.

Image source: Pixabay.com       

The electrical system of the heart is composed of three parts, namely the sinoatrial (SA) node, or nature’s pacemaker; the atrioventricular (AV) node, or a gate-like barrier that slows the electrical signal before entering the ventricles; and the His-Purkinje Network, a pathway of fibers sending the impulse to the ventricles’ muscular walls and leading them to contract.

At rest, you can expect the heart to beat some 50 to 100 times per minute. Several factors can cause your heart to beat faster, including exercising, extreme emotions, and fever. This is because during excitement or activity, the body demands more oxygen-dense blood, and heart rate then climbs to more than 100 beats every minute.

Image source: Pixabay.com       

It’s not a widely known fact that problems with the electrical system may occur even if your heart muscle is functioning well, warns Ian Weisberg, M.D. You can easily feel your pulse and tell how fast your heart is beating, and this way you can also know if your heart rhythm is regular or not. The cardiac electrical system works in an amazing, well-coordinated manner that maximizes the efficiency of your beating heart.

Ian Weisberg, M.D., is a Pensacola, Florida-based cardiac electrophysiologist. For similar posts, visit this page.









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