Cardiovascular System Exam Related

Review Cardiovascular System Exam related questions and content

Which structure serves as the normal pacemaker of the heart?

  • A. SA node
  • B. AV node
  • C. Purkinje fibers
  • D. Atria
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: SA node. The SA node is known as the natural pacemaker of the heart because it initiates the electrical impulses that regulate the heartbeat. It is located in the right atrium and generates the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's contractions. The other choices, B: AV node, C: Purkinje fibers, and D: Atria, do play roles in the heart's electrical conduction system, but they do not serve as the primary pacemaker. The AV node delays the electrical impulses, the Purkinje fibers distribute the impulses to the heart muscles, and the atria contract to pump blood into the ventricles. However, none of these structures serve as the primary pacemaker like the SA node does.