Question
Which of these structures conduct(s) action potentials the slowest? View Available Hint(s) Purkinje fibers AV node Bundle branches AV bundle
Ask by Smith Blake. in the United States
Jan 22,2025
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Answer
The AV node conducts action potentials the slowest.
Solution
The **AV node (Atrioventricular node)** conducts action potentials the slowest among the listed structures. Here's a brief overview of each structure's conduction speed:
1. **Purkinje fibers**: These have the fastest conduction velocity, ensuring rapid and coordinated ventricular contractions.
2. **Bundle branches**: These also conduct signals relatively quickly, facilitating the distribution of electrical impulses to the Purkinje fibers.
3. **AV bundle (Bundle of His)**: This structure conducts impulses at a moderate speed, bridging the atria and ventricles.
4. **AV node**: This is the slowest conductor in the cardiac conduction system. The delay it introduces allows the atria to fully contract and the ventricles to fill with blood before they contract.
**Answer:** AV node
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Simplify this solution The Deep Dive
The AV node conducts action potentials the slowest among the options listed. This slower conduction allows for a critical pause in the electrical signal, giving the atria time to fully contract and pump blood into the ventricles before they start to contract. This delay is essential for efficient heart function and maintaining proper blood flow. On the other hand, Purkinje fibers conduct action potentials very quickly, facilitating synchronized contraction of the ventricles. In contrast, the AV bundle and bundle branches conduct signals rapidly to ensure timely heartbeats, but the AV node's slower conduction is vital for the heart's overall rhythmic coordination.
