Sinoatrial Node
Sinoatrial Node
The Sinoatrial Node (pronounced: /ˌsaɪnoʊˈeɪtriəl ˈnoʊd/), often abbreviated as SA node, is a crucial component of the heart's electrical system. It is also known as the heart's natural pacemaker because it initiates each heartbeat.
Etymology
The term "Sinoatrial Node" is derived from the Latin words "sinus", meaning "bay", and "atrium", referring to the upper chambers of the heart. The "node" refers to the small mass of specialized tissue that generates electrical impulses.
Function
The SA node generates electrical impulses that travel through the heart muscle, causing it to contract and pump blood. This electrical activity can be recorded on an Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG).
Related Terms
- Atrioventricular Node (AV node): This is another important part of the heart's electrical system, which receives impulses from the SA node and passes them on to the ventricles.
- Cardiac Cycle: This is the sequence of events that occur when the heart beats. The SA node plays a key role in initiating the cardiac cycle.
- Arrhythmia: This is a condition where the heart beats irregularly, too fast, or too slow. It can be caused by problems with the SA node.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sinoatrial Node
- Wikipedia's article - Sinoatrial Node
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski