The AV node
A) is the normal pacemaker of the heart.
B) is the only electrical connection between the atria and the ventricles.
C) rapidly conducts the impulse from the atria to the ventricles so that they contract simultaneously.
D) is not innervated by the vagus.
E) has the fastest rate of depolarization in the heart.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The AV node is the only electrical connection between the atria and the ventricles.

Answer: C 
 The AV node rapidly conducts the impulse from the atria to the ventricles so that they contract simultaneously.

Answer: D 
 The AV node is innervated by the vagus nerve, which slows down conduction through the node. This is why stimulation of the vagus nerve can slow down the heart rate.

Answer: A and E 
 Neither A nor E are correct statements about the AV node. The AV node is not the normal pacemaker of the heart, as that role is typically attributed to the sinoatrial (SA) node. Additionally, the AV node does not have the fastest rate of depolarization in the heart - that distinction belongs to the Purkinje fibers.

The AV Node