Major
Biology
Anticipated Graduation Year
Fall 2022
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
Cardiac conduction is the mechanism by which the heart beats, made up of a network of specialized cells that convey electrical signals to make heart muscles contract. The sinoatrial (SA) node sends electrical impulses to begin the heartbeat. The speed of these signals is determined by the autonomic nervous system, but the heart generates the signals on its own. After the SA node sends the initial signal, it reaches the atrioventricular (AV) node where it is delayed for a fraction of a second, allowing the atria to empty their blood before filling again. The signal then reaches a branch of cells called the bundle of His, then finally to the Purkinje fibers at the bottom of the heart. The bundle of His contains a left and righ branch, sending signals to the left and right ventricles through the Purkinje fibers. This causes the ventricles to contract. Blood flows from the right ventricle through the pulmonary artery and onto the lungs and from the left ventricle to the aorta, delivering blood to the body.
The heart is the force of life behind most animal and all human bodies. It is a unique organ, generating electrical impulses without the brain. This composition illustrates the cardiac conduction system, capturing the mechanism of a heartbeat and using symbolism in color. Blue signifies the deoxygenated blood returning to the heart while green represents the oxygenated blood traveling throughout the body. I chose to use green instead of red for oxygenated blood because green is the color of life, growth, and renewal. The green threadlike arteries and arterioles show the many pathways through which blood travels to deliver oxygen and nutrients to organs, sustaining life. The red is cardiac muscle itself while yellow represents the energy or life force that the heart is—similar to a yellow ray of sunlight delivering the energy of life to the Earth.
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Life Force
Cardiac conduction is the mechanism by which the heart beats, made up of a network of specialized cells that convey electrical signals to make heart muscles contract. The sinoatrial (SA) node sends electrical impulses to begin the heartbeat. The speed of these signals is determined by the autonomic nervous system, but the heart generates the signals on its own. After the SA node sends the initial signal, it reaches the atrioventricular (AV) node where it is delayed for a fraction of a second, allowing the atria to empty their blood before filling again. The signal then reaches a branch of cells called the bundle of His, then finally to the Purkinje fibers at the bottom of the heart. The bundle of His contains a left and righ branch, sending signals to the left and right ventricles through the Purkinje fibers. This causes the ventricles to contract. Blood flows from the right ventricle through the pulmonary artery and onto the lungs and from the left ventricle to the aorta, delivering blood to the body.
The heart is the force of life behind most animal and all human bodies. It is a unique organ, generating electrical impulses without the brain. This composition illustrates the cardiac conduction system, capturing the mechanism of a heartbeat and using symbolism in color. Blue signifies the deoxygenated blood returning to the heart while green represents the oxygenated blood traveling throughout the body. I chose to use green instead of red for oxygenated blood because green is the color of life, growth, and renewal. The green threadlike arteries and arterioles show the many pathways through which blood travels to deliver oxygen and nutrients to organs, sustaining life. The red is cardiac muscle itself while yellow represents the energy or life force that the heart is—similar to a yellow ray of sunlight delivering the energy of life to the Earth.