Patient was educated on the details of the cardiac conduction system elements as follows:
- Sinoatrial Node or SA Node
- This consists of a group of cells located in the upper part of the wall of the right atrium. This is the natural pacemaker of the heart, where a cardiac impulse is initiated.
- The impulse initiated here will spread along the musculature of the right atrium to the next junction, AV node.
- Blood flows in the direction of the impulse conduction from atria to ventricles during this step.
- Atrioventricular Node or AV Node
- This consists of a group of cells located in the floor of the right atrium, at the junction of right atrium and right ventricle.
- The AV node receives the impulse from atrial muscle. The AV node delays the impulse for a split second, which is referred to as AV delay.
- This delay is to make sure the atria are completely empty and the AV valves close, to prevent a reverse flow, from the ventricles to atria.
- Apart from this regular function, AV node can also be a reserve pacemaker in the heart, initiating a cardiac impulse under conditions when SA node has failed.
