The Conducting System of the

Heart

The Conducting System of the

Heart
Generates and distributes impulses to the
contractile cells of the heart
Consists of the:
Sinoatrial Node (SA node)
Atrioventricular node (AV node)
Conducting Cells

Internodal pathways
AV Bundle (Bundle of His)
Bundle Branches
Purkinje Fibres

Bundle of His

Purkinje Fibres

Conducting System of the Heart

Cell membranes of the SA and AV nodes
cannot maintain a stable resting potential
Membrane drifts toward threshold after
repolarisation: Pre-potential
Rates of Spontaneous Depolarisation
SA node: 80 100 per minute
AV node: 40 60 per minute

Therefore, SA node sets heart rate

Pathway of Impulses through the

Heart
Generation of action potential at SA Node
Impulse transmitted to AV node via internodal
pathways (Elapsed time 50 msec)
100msec delay at the AV node. Atrial contraction
begins
Impulse transmitted to AV bundle
(Elapsed time150 ms)

Pathway of Impulses through the

Heart (contd)
Impulse travels through bundle branches
to moderator band and Purkinje fibres
(Elapsed time 175 msec)
Impulse passes through ventricular
myocardium; atrial contraction completed
ventricular contraction begins
(Elapsed time 225 msec)

Bundle of His

Purkinje Fibres

The Conducting System of the

Heart
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/00
72495855/student_view0/chapter22/animati
on__conducting_system_of_the_heart.html

The Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Records the electrical activity of the heart
12 electrodes placed on the surface of the
body
Used to detect abnormalities in the nodes,
conducting and contractile cells of the
heart

The Electrocardiogram (ECG)

ECG Waveform

ECG Waveform
P Wave Atrial Deoplarization
QRS Complex Ventricular Depolarization
T Wave Ventricular Repolarization

The Cardiac Cycle

Blood Vessels

Types of Blood Vessels

Arteries
Veins
Capillaries

Structure of Vessel Walls

There three distinct layers in the walls of
arteries and veins:
Tunica Intima
Tunica Media
Tunica Externa

Structure of Vessel Walls

Tunica Intima (Tunica Interna)
Innermost layer
Consists of an endothelial lining and
underlying connective tissue with elastic
fibres
In arteries the outer margin contains a
thick layer of elastic fibres called the
Internal Elastic Membrane

Structure of Vessel Walls

Tunica Intima

Structure of Vessel Walls

Tunica Media
The middle layer
Consists of concentric sheets of smooth muscle
in a loose connective tissue framework
Thicker in arteries than in veins
Collagen fibres bind this layer to the tunica
media and externa
External Elastic Membrane surrounds this layer
in arteries
The Tunica Media changes the diameter of the
blood vessel

Structure of Vessel Walls

Tunica Media
Note the location of
the External Elastic
Membrane (Lamina)

Structure of Vessel Walls

Tunica Externa/Tunica Adventitia
Outermost layer
Connective tissue sheath
Stabilizes and anchors vessel to adjacent
tissues
Thicker in veins than in arteries
In arteries it consists of collagen fibres with
scattered elastic fibre bands
In veins it consists of bundles of elastic
fibres and smooth muscle cells

Comparison of a Typical Artery and

Vein
Artery
Usually rounded, with
relatively thick wall
Tunica Intima usually
rippled, due to vessel
constriction; internal
elastic membrane
present

Vein
Usually flattened or
collapsed, with
relatively thin wall
Tunica Intima often
smooth; internal
elastic membrane
absent

Comparison of a Typical Artery and

Vein
Artery
Tunica Media is thick,
dominated by smooth
muscle and elastic
fibres
External Elastic
Membrane present
Tunica Externa of
collagen and elastic
fibres
No Valves

Vein
Tunica Media is thin,
dominated by smooth
muscle and collagen
fibres
External Elastic
Membrane absent
Tunica Externa of
collagen and elastic
fibres and smooth
muscle cells
Valves line lumen

Which of these is the Artery?

Types of Arteries

Elastic
Muscular
Arterioles
Peripheral capillaries

Elastic Arteries

Up to 2.5 cm lumen diameter

Large vessel
Close to the heart
Tunica media of mostly elastic fibres, few
smooth muscle fibres Elastic Rebound
Eg. Aorta, Pulmonary trunk, Common
Carotid, Subclavian

Muscular Arteries
Medium sized
0.4 cm 0.5 mm lumen diameter
Distributes blood to skeletal muscle and
internal organs
Thick tunica media, much thicker than in
elastic arteries
Eg. External carotid, brachial, mesenteric,
femoral

Arterioles
30 m or less lumen diameter
Poorly defined tunica externa and tunica
media reduced to 2 layers in larger
arterioles
Small arterioles have scattered smooth
muscle
Diameter changes under sympathetic
nervous stimulation and hormonal control
Low oxygen levels cause dilation

Capillaries
8 m average diameter
Posses an endothelial layer with basal
lamina

Types of Capillaries
Continuous Capillaries
The endothelium is a
complete lining
A cross-section of large
continuous capillaries
cuts through several
endothelial cells
In small continuous
capillaries a single
endothelial cell may
completely encircle the
lumen
Located in all tissues
except epithelia and
cartilage

Types of Capillaries
Fenestrated Capillaries
Contain windows or pores
that penetrate the
endothelial lining
Permit rapid exchange of
water and solutes as
large as small peptides
Eg. Choroid plexus of the
brain and blood vessels
in the hypothalamus,
small intestine and
filtration slits of the
kidneys

Venous System
Venules
Medium-Sized Veins
Large Veins

Venules
Average diameter 20 m
Collects blood from capillary beds
Valves present

Medium Sized Veins

2 9 mm diameter
Thin tunica media with few smooth muscle
cells
Thick tunica externa of longitudinal
bundles of elastic and collagen
Valves present

Large Veins
All tunica layers present
Tunica externa very thick; elastic and
collagen fibres
Eg. Superior and inferior vena cava