Conduction system of the heart (Latin)

The conduction system of the heart is formed by specialized cardiac muscle fibers that are responsible for the initiation and conduction of cardiac impulses. The conduction system is composed of five components: nodus sinuatrialis (SA), nodus atriventricularis (AV), fasciculus atrioventricularis (bundle of His), crus dextrum/sinistrum fasciculi atriventricularis and rami subendocardiales (fibrae Purkinjenses). The nodus sinuatrialis is the pacemaker of the heart and is located superior to the sulcus terminalis of the atrium dexter. The nodus atrioventricularis is also located in the atrium dexter. It picks up and propagates action potentials produced by the nodus sinoatrialis and is capable of producing its own action potentials. The fasciculus atrioventricularis is made up of specialized cardiac muscle fibers that extend through the septum interatriale as far as the apex cordis. These fibers then divide into rami subendocardiales (fibrae Purkinjenses) that extend into the myocardium of the ventricles.