If the AV node is damaged so that it can no longer transmit the signal from the SA node (total heart block), will the ventricles continue to contract? Why or why not?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In the case of total heart block, where the AV node is damaged and cannot transmit signals from the SA node, the ventricles can still contract. This is because the Purkinje fibers and the bundle of His, which are part of the intrinsic cardiac conduction system, can initiate impulses independently, albeit at a slower rate than the SA node. Therefore, while the ventricles will continue to contract, the rate will be slower, and the coordination between atrial and ventricular contractions will be lost.

If the AV Node Is Damaged So That It Can