s through the heart in one direction, from the atria to the ventricles, and out through the

pulmonary artery into the pulmonary circulation, and the aorta into the systemic circulation. The
pulmonary artery (also trunk) branches into the left and right pulmonary arteries to supply each
lung. Blood is prevented from flowing backwards (regurgitation) by the tricuspid, bicuspid,
aortic, and pulmonary valves.
The function of the right heart, is to collect de-oxygenated blood, in the right atrium, from the
body (via the superior and inferior venae cavae and pump it, through the tricuspid valve, via the
right ventricle, through the semilunar pulmonary valve and into the pulmonary artery in the
pulmonary circulation where carbon dioxide can be exchanged for oxygen in the lungs.This
happens through the passive process of diffusion. In the left heart oxygenated blood is returned
to the left atrium via the pulmonary vein. It is then pumped into the left ventricle through the
bicuspid valve and into the aorta for systemic circulation. Eventually in the systemic capillaries
exchange with the tissue fluid and cells of the body occurs; oxygen and nutrients are supplied to
the cells for their metabolism and exchanged for carbon dioxide and waste products[7] In this
case, oxygen and nutrients exit the systemic capillaries to be used by the cells in their metabolic
processes, and carbon dioxide and waste products will enter the blood.[7]
The ventricles are stronger and thicker than the atria, and the muscle wall surrounding the left
ventricle is thicker than the wall surrounding the right ventricle due to the higher force needed to
pump the blood through the systemic circulation. Atria facilitate circulation primarily by
allowing uninterrupted venous flow to the heart, preventing the inertia of interrupted venous flow
that would otherwise occur at each ventricular systole.[23]

Cardiac muscle
Main article: Cardiac muscle
Cardiac muscle tissue has autorhythmicity, the unique ability to initiate a cardiac action potential
at a fixed rate - spreading the impulse rapidly from cell to cell to trigger the contraction of the
entire heart. This autorhythmicity is still modulated by the endocrine and nervous systems.[7]
There are two types of cardiac muscle cell: cardiomyocytes which have the ability to contract
easily, and modified cardiomyocytes the pacemaker cells of the conducting system. The
cardiomyocytes make up the bulk (99%) of cells in the atria and ventricles. These contractile
cells respond to impulses of action potential from the pacemaker cells and are responsible for the
contractions that pump blood through the body. The pacemaker cells make up just (1% of cells)
and form the conduction system of the heart. They are generally much smaller than the
contractile cells and have few of the myofibrils or myofilaments which means that have limited
contractibility. Their function is similar in many respects to neurons.[7] The bundle of His and
Purkinje fibres are specialised cardiomyocytes that function in the conduction system.

Electrical conduction
Main articles: Electrical conduction system of the heart and Cardiac action potential

Transmission of a cardiac action potential through the heart's conduction system

It is not very well known how the electric signal moves in the atria. It seems that it moves in a
radial way, but Bachmann's bundle and coronary sinus muscle play a role in conduction between
the two atria, which have a nearly simultaneous systole.[24][25][26] While in the ventricles, the signal
is carried by specialized tissue called the Purkinje fibers which then transmit the electric charge
to the myocardium.[27]
If embryonic heart cells are separated into a Petri dish and kept alive, e