Conduction System — ECG/EKG Terminology

Definition: The specialized electrical pathway that transmits impulses through the heart in an organized sequence: SA node → Atria → AV node → Bundle of His → Bundle Branches → Purkinje fibers → Ventricles.

Key Facts

• Ensures the atria contract before the ventricles
• Allows both ventricles to contract almost simultaneously
• Problems in this pathway create recognizable ECG patterns
• Each level has a backup rate if the level above fails

ECG Connection: The shape and timing of ECG waveforms directly reflect how electricity travels through this system.

Why It Matters: Recognizing conduction blocks starts with knowing the normal pathway.