Reference no: EM133603431

Assignment:

Provide a meaningful or thought-provoking response to each.

1. The video that I chose to watch was the one about heart sounds because that is the one concept that I struggled with the most. I feel like the heart sounds are very similar and are hard to tell the difference between each distinct sounds. I also have trouble remembering all of the labels of the heart and the exact function that each part of the heart has. I feel like with more time and practice it will become easier and more natural to look at.

2. The electrical system of the heart is like its own little power grid. It's responsible for generating and coordinating the electrical signals that control the heart's rhythm and ensure it beats in a synchronized and efficient manner. The electrical system starts in a group of cells called the sinoatrial (SA) node, located in the right atrium of the heart. The SA node acts as the natural pacemaker, sending out electrical impulses that tell the heart to contract and pump blood. From the SA node, the electrical signals travel through specialized pathways called the atrioventricular (AV) node and the bundle of His. These pathways help conduct the signals from the upper chambers (atria) to the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart. Once the electrical signals reach the ventricles, they cause the muscles to contract, pumping blood out to the rest of the body. This coordinated electrical activity ensures that the heart beats in a regular rhythm and efficiently circulates blood throughout our body. If there are any disruptions or abnormalities in the electrical system, it can lead to heart rhythm disorders or arrhythmias. These conditions can cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly.

3. Can you explain the difference in the SA and AV node?

4. What is pericardial effusion and what causes it?