Heart Health Heart Disease Palpitations & Arrhythmias The Heart's Electrical System: Anatomy and Function Five components of electrical conduction make the heart beat By Richard N. Fogoros, MD Richard N. Fogoros, MD Facebook LinkedIn Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 20, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Anisha Shah, MD Medically reviewed by Anisha Shah, MD LinkedIn Anisha Shah, MD, is a board-certified internist, interventional cardiologist, and a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print The electrical system of the heart is critical to how it functions. It controls the electrical impulses that cause your heart to beat and their conduction, which organizes the beating of your heart. This electrical conduction across the heart's pathway is what is visible when traced on an electrocardiogram (EKG). The EKG is also what allows irregularities in the heart's electrical system, and with them any related symptoms and medical conditions, to be assessed. This article explains five components of the cardiac conduction system and how they work. It also discusses how heart disease or a heart attack can cause serious disruptions in the system. Where Do Electrical Impulses Start in the Heart? Encyclopaedia Britannica/UIG/Getty Images The heart generates its own electrical signal. This electrical signal is produced by a tiny structure known as the sinus node, located in the upper portion of the right atrium. The right atrium is one of four heart chambers and related valves which include two atria at the top of the heart with two ventricles at the bottom. From the sinus node, the electrical signal spreads across the right atrium and the left atrium (the top two chambers of the heart), causing both atria to contract. This pushes their load of blood into the right and left ventricles, the bottom two chambers of the heart. The electrical signal then passes through the AV node to the ventricles, where it causes the ventricles to contract in turn. The cardiac electrical signal controls the heartbeat in two ways. First, since each electrical impulse generates one heartbeat, the number of electrical impulses determines the heart rate. In normal sinus rhythm, that rate will be between 60 and 100 beats per minute. The sinus node signal also controls electrical conduction of the heart's steps as it "spreads" across the heart. It causes the cells of heart muscle to contract in the correct sequence and ensures regular, efficient, and coordinated heartbeats. Components of the Cardiac Conduction System Fogoros Figure 1: The components of the heart's electrical system including the sinus node (SN) and atrioventricular node (AV node) are illustrated here. You can see the two atria and the two ventricles. Separating them is a layer of fibrous tissue, labeled AV disc. This tissue keep the electrical signal passing through the AV node. In this figure: SN = sinus nodeAVN = AV nodeRA = right atriumLA = left atriumRV = right ventricleLV = left ventricleTV = tricuspid valve (the valve that separates the right atrium from the right ventricle)MV = mitral valve (the valve that separates the left atrium from the left ventricle) The Heart's Electrical Signal Spreads Across the Atria Fogoros Figure 2: The electrical impulse originates in the sinus node. From there, it spreads across both atria (indicated by the blue lines in the picture), causing the atria to contract. This is referred to as atrial depolarization. As the electrical impulse passes through the atria, it generates the so-called "P" wave on the EKG. (The P wave is indicated by the solid red line on the EKG off to the left side). Heart Electrical System Problems Sinus bradycardia ("brady" means slow) is the most common cause of a low heart rate and is caused by the SA node firing at a reduced rate. Sinus tachycardia ("tachy" means fast) refers to a rapid heart rate and can be caused by the SA node firing at an increased rate. The Heart's Electrical Signal Reaches the AV Node Fogoros Figure 3: When the wave of electricity reaches the AV disc, it is stopped, except in the AV node. The impulse travels through the AV node at a slow, controlled rate toward the ventricles. The solid red line on the EKG in this figure indicates the PR interval. The Heart's Electrical Signal Passes to the Ventricles Fogoros Figure 4: The specialized AV conduction system consists of the AV node (AVN), the "His bundle," and the right and left bundle branches (RBB and LBB). The AV node conducts the electrical impulse to the His bundle. The His bundle passes the signal to the right and left bundle branches. The right and left bundle branches, in turn, send the electrical impulse to the right and left ventricles, respectively. The figure also shows that the LBB itself splits into the left anterior fascicle (LAF) and the left posterior fascicle (LPF). Because the impulse travels only very slowly through the AV node, there is a pause in the electrical activity on the EKG, referred to as the PR interval. (The PR interval is illustrated on the EKG in Figure 3.) This "pause" in the action allows the atria to contract fully, emptying blood into the ventricles before the ventricles begin to contract. Problems anywhere along the heart's electrical pathway can cause abnormalities in the heart rhythm. For example, AV block (heart block) is one of the two major causes of a low heart rate (bradycardia). Third-degree heart block is the most severe type and usually requires a pacemaker. There are different degrees of block in the heart's electrical system, and different ways to fix the electrical problems with the heart. Bundle branch block occurs in either the right bundle branch or left bundle branch, with those in the left bundle branch usually most serious. Bundle branch blocks may occur for no apparent reason but often occur when the heart is damaged due to a heart attack or other cardiac conditions. A left bundle branch block from a heart attack is an important cause of sudden cardiac death. The Heart's Electrical Signal Spreads Across the Ventricles Fogoros Figure 5: This figure shows the electrical impulse spreading throughout the right and left ventricles, causing these chambers to contract. As the electrical signal travels through the ventricles, it generates the “QRS complex” on the EKG. The QRS complex is indicated by the solid red line on the EKG to the left. In this manner, the electrical system of the heart causes the heart muscle to contract and send blood to either the organs of the body (via the left ventricle) or to the lungs (via the right ventricle). Bottom Line From the initiation of a heartbeat in the SA node, through contraction of the ventricles, the cardiac electrical system causes the heart to contract in a coordinated manner, maximizing the efficiency of the beating heart. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Did you know the most common forms of heart disease are largely preventable? Our guide will show you what puts you at risk, and how to take control of your heart health. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. John Hopkins Medicine. Anatomy and Function of the Heart's Electrical System. Glover BM, Brugada P. Clinical handbook of cardiac electrophysiology. Springer. Klabunde, RE. Cardiac cycle - atrial contraction (phase 1). Cardiovascular Physiology Topics. Merck Manual. Bundle Branch Block. ACLS Medical Training. The Basics of ECG. Additional Reading Crawford MH, Bernstein SJ, Deedwania PC, et al. Acc/Aha Guidelines For Ambulatory Electrocardiography: Executive Summary And Recommendations. A Report Of The American College Of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force On Practice Guidelines (Committee To Revise The Guidelines For Ambulatory Electrocardiography). Circulation. 24 Aug 1999;100:886–893. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.100.8.886 Fogoros RN, Mandrola JM. Disorders of the Heart Rhythm: Basic Principles. In: Fogoros’ Electrophysiologic Testing. Wiley Blackwell, 6th edition.