Anatomy and Physiology II Practice Test

The conduction system of the heart is responsible for initiating and coordinating the electrical signals that dictate heartbeats. Components of this system include specialized structures such as the sinoatrial (SA) node, atrioventricular (AV) node, and Purkinje fibers. The SA node serves as the primary pacemaker, generating electrical impulses that spread throughout the heart. The AV node acts as a gateway for these impulses to travel from the atria to the ventricles, ensuring a synchronized contraction of the heart's chambers. Purkinje fibers then conduct the impulses throughout the ventricular myocardium, leading to efficient contraction.

Cardiac muscle tissue, while essential for the actual contraction of the heart muscle itself, does not play a role in the generation or conduction of electrical impulses. Instead, it responds to the signals transmitted by the conduction system. This distinction highlights why cardiac muscle tissue is not considered a component of the conduction system, which primarily involves specialized nodal and fiber structures responsible for electrical conduction rather than muscular contraction.