Overview of Heart Block

Contraction of the muscle fibers in the heart is controlled by electricity that flows through the heart in a precise manner along distinct pathways at a controlled speed. The electrical current that begins each heartbeat originates in the heart’s pacemaker (called the sinus node or sinoatrial node), located in the top of the upper right heart chamber (right atrium). The rate at which the pacemaker discharges the electrical current determines the heart rate. This rate is influenced by nerve impulses and by levels of certain hormones in the bloodstream.

The electrical current from the sinoatrial node flows first through the right atrium and then through the left atrium, causing the muscles of these chambers to contract and blood to be pumped from the atria into the lower heart chambers (ventricles). The electrical current then reaches the atrioventricular node, located in the lower part of the wall between the atria near the ventricles. The atrioventricular node provides the only electrical connection between the atria and ventricles. Otherwise, the atria are insulated from the ventricles by tissue that does not conduct electricity. The atrioventricular node delays transmission of the electrical current so that the atria can contract completely and the ventricles can fill with as much blood as possible before the ventricles are electrically signaled to contract.

After passing through the atrioventricular node, the electrical current travels down the bundle of His, a group of fibers that divide into a left bundle branch for the left ventricle and a right bundle branch for the right ventricle. The electrical current then spreads in a regulated manner over the inner surface of the ventricles, from the bottom up, initiating contraction of the ventricles, which eject blood from the heart.

Heart blocks can be classified based on the location of the block into

Usually, no treatment is needed for either type when the block is incomplete (such as in first-degree atrioventricular block Atrioventricular Block Atrioventricular block is a delay in the conduction of electrical current as it passes through the atrioventricular conduction system. (See also Overview of Abnormal Heart Rhythms and Overview... read more ). However, an artificial pacemaker Artificial Pacemakers There are many causes of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Some arrhythmias are harmless and do not need treatment. Sometimes arrhythmias stop on their own or with changes in lifestyle,... read more may be implanted in people who are at high risk of complete atrioventricular block (such as people with certain types of second-degree atrioventricular block Atrioventricular Block Atrioventricular block is a delay in the conduction of electrical current as it passes through the atrioventricular conduction system. (See also Overview of Abnormal Heart Rhythms and Overview... read more or in people with third-degree atrioventricular block Atrioventricular Block Atrioventricular block is a delay in the conduction of electrical current as it passes through the atrioventricular conduction system. (See also Overview of Abnormal Heart Rhythms and Overview... read more ) to maintain the heart rate if complete heart block occurs.