\ “| the heart in longitudinal section aorta nv a pr: Saree t ut - bi cusper y superior vena cava left pulmonary artery left pulmonary veins left atrium line of transverse section” semilunar valves right atrium inferior vena cava left atrio-ventricular valve (bicuspid or right atrioventricular mitral valve) (tricuspid) valve . chordae right ventricle. tendinae left ventricle interventricular septumBEE EEE —-_Dae The control of heartbeat Cardiac muscle continues to contract thythmically even after the heart has been surgically removed from the body, provided that it is maintained in a favourable medium. So the origin of the heartbeat is not a nerve impulse (it is not neurogenic) but rather is. an inherent Property of the cardiac muscle (it is myogenic). The pacemaker Excitation originates in a tiny structure in the wall of the right atrium, known as the sinoatrial node (SAN) or pacemaker (Figure 17.10). Muscle tissue conducts the excitation to both atria. At the base of the right atrium a second node, the atrio-ventricular node (AVN), passes on the excitation via bundles of exception- ally long muscle fibres, the Purkinje fibres (collectively called the bundles of His), to all parts of both ventricles. In this way contraction of the ventricles is initiated. As the ventricles contract the atria relax. Subsequently the ventricles relax and the cycle is complete. After being stimulated there is a brief period when muscle is insensitive to further stimulation (the _ refractory period, p. 446). Cardiac muscle has a relatively long refractory period. Because of this, cardiac muscle is able to beat forcefully, without fatigue and without developing a permanently contracted state known as tetanus. A symptom in some forms of heart disease is failure of the pacemaker. In many cases, normal heart rhythm can be maintained by a battery-powered device, implanted in the thorax, that delivers small, regular electrical pulses to the heart. Figure 17.10 The pacemaker, and myogenic stimulation sinoatrial node —attio-ventricular (pacemaker) superior vena cava excitation ‘wave. tight atrium left ventricle (in section) Purkinje fibres (bundles of His)The control of heartbeat Cardiac muscle continues to contract rhythmically even after the heart has been surgically removed from the body, provided that it is maintained in a favourable medium. So the origin of the heartbeat is not a nerve impulse (it is not neurogenic) but rather is an inherent property of the cardiac muscle (it is myogenic). The pacemaker Excitation originates in a tiny structure in the wall of the right atrium, known as the sinoatrial node (SAN) or pacemaker (Figure 17.10). Muscle tissue conducts the excitation to both atria. At the base of the right atrium a second node, the atrio-ventricular node (AVN), passes on. the excitation via bundles of exception- ally long muscle fibres, the Purkinje fibres (collectively called the bundles of His), to all parts of both ventricles. In this way contraction of the ventricles is initiated. ‘As the ventricles contract the atria relax. Subsequently the ventricles relax and the - cycle is complete. After being stimulated there is a brief period when muscle is insensitive to further stimulation (the refractory period, p. 446). Cardiac muscle has a relatively long refractory period. Because of this, cardiac muscle is able to beat forcefully, without fatigue and without developing a permanently contracted state known as tetanus. A symptom in some forms of heart disease is failure of the pacemaker. In many cases, normal heart rhythm can be maintained by a battery-powered device, implanted in the thorax, that delivers small, cegular electrical pulses to the heart. Figure 17.10 The pacemaker, and myogenic stimulation sinoatrial node —atrio-ventricular superior vena cava excitation wave right atrium left ventricle (in section) Purkinje fibres (bundles of His)