Sinoatrial node of the next action potential. Pacemaker cells, however, don’t have this resting phase. Instead, immediately after one action potential, the membrane potential of these cells begins to depolarise again automatically, this is known as the pacemaker potential. Once the pacemaker potential reaches a set value, known as the threshold value, it then produces an action potential. Other cells within the heart (including the purkinje fibers and atrioventricular node; AVN) can also initiate action potentials; however, they do so at a slower rate and therefore, if the SA node is working, it usually beats the AVN to it. Outlined below are
Bachmann's bundle found that clamping the muscular bundle of fibers that connects the atria caused a significant conduction delay. The Bachman's bundle receives its blood supply from the sinoatrial nodal artery (right, left or both). Besides Bachmann's bundle, the other three conduction tracts that constitute the "atrial conduction system" are known as the anterior, middle, and posterior tracts, which run from the sinoatrial node to the atrioventricular node, converging in the region near the coronary sinus. "Atrial automaticity foci" are within the atrial conduction system. The concentration of converging conduction tracts near the coronary sinus results in considerable automaticity activity originating in