So I love diagrams and I am a total visual learner so here is my version on the diagram Dr. Puchalski drew for us. Also as a disclaimer this is my interpretation of what he told us and I am definately not a dr. so I hope I get it right.
The baby's heart is figuring out how to work and what cells do what. A regular beat starts with the sinoatrial node (SA Node - has strongest electrical pulse) and it sends a signal to the Atrioventricular node (AV Node) to contract the ventricles. The baby's heart has a cell that thinks it is the SA Node so it will sometimes send a signal to the AV Node to contract the ventricles but the AV Node blocks it. Then the heart has to repolarize (this happens normally between each beat and means it is recharging). The real SA Node then starts a regular beat all over again by sending a signal to the AV Node and the ventricles contract. 
From normal beat to normal beat the heart rate is about 140 BPM but when an irregular beat happens then the heart rate is about 90 BPM for that one beat.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Premature Atrial Contractions - Part 2
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1 comment:
I am very proud to see this on your blog! Way to educate everyone about the heart. My Anatomy & Physiology professors would love it.
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